[Insta Walk] Actor's Bookstore 'Chaekgwa Bam, Nat'

Bookstore Founded by Actor and Writer Park Jeong-min and Friend CEO Kwak Ji-hoon
Customers Immersed in 'Reading Trance' Rather Than Chatting or Using Laptops
Quotes Underlined by Park Jeong-min on Coffee Coasters
Bookshelves Featuring Recommended Books and Titles Related to His Works Like 'Dongju' and 'Sidong'
Space for 'Keeping Books' Where Purchased Books Can Be Left and Read

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] A cafe run by an actor. Even just introducing it this way would likely attract quite a few interested people. Acting is one of the professions that easily draws attention, and if an actor runs a cafe personally, it might be hard not to be curious. But his other 'profession' is a writer. He published an essay collection titled Useful Human four years ago. The fact that an actor and writer runs and operates a cafe makes it all the more intriguing.

This is the story of Park Jung-min’s cafe, Books and Day & Night, which he opened after appearing on a variety show last year, showing himself writing a book. On the afternoon of Sunday the 22nd, I visited this place. The cafe, imbued with the care of CEO Park, who is an actor, writer, and cafe owner all at once, is already quite famous among fans as well as Instagrammers who love books. Less than an hour after opening, it was almost fully occupied.

Although the address is in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, the cafe is close to Sangsu Station and located on the second floor of a four-story building. With a long table seating about ten people, a couple of two-person tables, a three-person table by the window, and table lamps at each seat, the space evokes more of a library than a cafe.

The reason it resembles a library can be explained like this: CEO Park and his friend of 20 years, CEO Kwak Ji-hoon, opened Books and Day & Night with a focus on creating a 'comfortable place to read books.' Originally, the cafe started in a small house of about 10 pyeong (approximately 33 square meters). In March last year, the two opened a cafe called Books and Night, a bookstore concept that operated at night. CEO Kwak recalled, "Park Jung-min always wanted to create a 'space for reading books.' Then one day, somewhat impulsively, he put that dream into action." However, as more customers began visiting, a larger space was needed, and they newly established the cafe here, in a neighborhood Park frequently visited, under the name Books and Day & Night.

The cafe’s name doesn’t carry a deeply profound meaning. The previous cafe, which operated at night, was called Books and Night, and now that it’s open day and night, it’s called Books and Day & Night. It opens at 2 p.m. and closes at midnight, making it a kind of late-night bookstore. CEO Kwak explained, "There wasn’t a grand reason like encouraging reading in an era when people rarely read books; we just thought it would be nice to have a place in the neighborhood where people could read books at night."

Perhaps because of their firm philosophy, when I mentioned that video filming was needed for coverage, they earnestly requested that it not disturb the customers. So, with the mindset of visiting as a customer, I brought a novel I had purchased a month ago. After ordering a cup of coffee, I sat at the only remaining seat by the window. The overall atmosphere felt like a cozy bookstore. The usual tapping of laptops or lively chatter among groups, common in cafes, was hard to find. Everyone was immersed in reading. It seems more appropriate to describe this place as a bookstore that sells drinks rather than a cafe that sells books.

The coffee I ordered at the counter was delivered to my seat with a coaster labeled Books and Day & Night. On the coaster was a phrase saying, "Look at the back." When I flipped it over, there was a passage from a book along with the book’s title. It was one of the books sold here. There was also a note that purchasing the book grants a 10% discount. CEO Kwak introduced this by saying, "My friend (CEO Park) came up with the idea. When he reads books, he underlines passages that resonate with him, and he put those quotes on the coasters."

On the bookshelf to the left of the entrance, poetry collections, novels, and other books for sale are displayed. The books for sale are wrapped in packaging to prevent damage, and there are separate books available for browsing freely without pressure. Although the selection isn’t large, the bookshelf is curated with books that CEO Park wants to introduce. On one side, there is also a 'book menu.' This corner introduces recommended books selected from the displayed collection. In the center of the bookshelf is a space dedicated to actor Park Jung-min. Books related to his works such as Dongju and Start-Up are arranged there, along with his photos and a guestbook where fans can leave their marks.

To the right of the bookshelf, there is an unusual collection of used books. Looking closely, each compartment has a name and date noted. Some compartments hold three or four books. This bookshelf is for 'keeping books.' Books purchased at Books and Day & Night can be left here and taken out anytime to read again. Books with a note from the owner saying "You may read this" can be freely taken out by any visitor. CEO Kwak explained, "This place used to operate as an LP bar, and we repurposed the LP storage compartments as bookshelves. We thought it would be fun to use this idea for keeping books, so we started it."

Thus, the cafe hides thoughtful consideration for its visitors. Still, CEO Kwak says, "There’s nothing special." Aside from the fact that customers can use the space for a long time at an affordable price, there’s nothing to boast about. However, the ability to comfortably sit for hours reading after ordering a cup of coffee, and the mutual consideration between owner and customers allowing books to be kept and freely accessed, gives Books and Day & Night its unique charm.