[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters] "Came for the book club, stayed for the walk"... The Secret to the Popularity of 'Sungnyemun Literature Hall'

Interest from All Walks of Life in Having Productive and Progressive Hobbies
Reading Books and Engaging in Online Non-Face-to-Face Discussions Even During COVID-19
Weakened Physical Strength from Only Reading Books... Now Walking 10km a Day

Across the street from Seoul’s Sungnyemun Square, there is a small building with a sign that reads 'Sungnyemun Hakdang.' Although the space is not very large, containing only tables, chairs, and bookshelves filled with hundreds of books, this reading community has been gathering here for 15 years since its first meeting in December 2008. People from all walks of life?students, housewives, office workers, public officials, professionals such as lawyers and doctors?differing in occupation, age, and residential area, come together here to share thoughts through books, engage in lively discussions, and take a step further by participating in activities that promote both physical and mental health. We met with Director Kim Min-young (left in the photo), Secretary-General Kim Min-seok (right), who manage Sungnyemun Hakdang, and instructor Jo Hye-won (center), who runs the 100-day walking group.

On the 3rd, at 'Sungnyemun Literature Hall' located in Namdaemunro 5-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Director Kim Min-young (from the left), Instructor Jo Hye-won (operator of the 100-day walking group), and Secretary General Kim Min-seok are posing. Photo by Huh Young-han younghan@

A 'Productive' Hobby That Enables Communication and Empathy

Kim Min-young, Director of Sungnyemun Literature Hall. Photo by Huh Young-han younghan@

Reading is often considered an activity that can be done alone. However, when you share your impressions and insights with someone who has read the same book, you can view the book from different perspectives and discover new viewpoints you had never considered. Captivated by this experience, a few people came together to start Sungnyemun Hakdang. Those who found reading alone boring or wanted a more constructive hobby joined, as well as those who wished to engage in intellectual and productive conversations or network with people from different fields. As a result, the types of gatherings and the number of members within the Hakdang increased. To date, more than 12,000 members have joined Sungnyemun Hakdang, with 120 active small groups and around 40 instructors. Depending on the duration and frequency of meetings, members typically pay a few tens of thousands of won per month, and for offline meetings, an average of 20,000 won per session, which covers the Hakdang’s operating costs and instructor fees (group leaders).

Kim, who also works as a professional reading discussion instructor, said, "When holding meetings, it becomes clear how much modern people suffer from high levels of stress." She added, "By reading books and writing, members confront hidden anger or frustration within themselves, and by sharing thoughts with others, they can relieve these emotions, leading to improved mental health." Experiencing emotional comfort, accepting others’ thoughts and feelings, and broadening one’s perspective encourages members to continue participating once they start a reading group, sometimes even creating new groups with more specific themes.

Kim Min-seok, Secretary General of Sungnyemun Literature Hall. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

As more people from across the country wanted to join, online reading discussion groups were also tried. Initially, they used KakaoTalk group chats, which received unexpectedly positive responses because participants could join anytime and anywhere with just a smartphone. Secretary-General Kim explained, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, when face-to-face meetings became impossible, video conferencing platforms like ZOOM became popular, and the Hakdang’s reading groups quickly moved online." Currently, four out of five groups are conducted online, including participation from members living overseas.

With over ten years of experience running reading discussion groups, the model created by Sungnyemun Hakdang has become a systematic educational program. Reading discussion instructors trained by the Hakdang lead groups and teach programs at local governments, libraries, schools, and companies nationwide.

Secretary-General Kim said, "There are other reading-based community businesses like 'Trevari' and 'Agreeable,' but Sungnyemun Hakdang’s reading discussions focus more on exploring the content of books and taking a humanities-based approach." He explained, "Compared to knowledge-delivery lectures or programs, this approach is more advantageous for developing personal interpretation, judgment, and critical perspectives."

The Healing Power Experienced Through Reading and Walking

Instructor Jo Hyewon, Sungnyemun Literature Academy. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

The walking group was also started on Director Kim’s suggestion. Kim said, "Around 2013, I suddenly started walking from the Seoul City Wall to Seochon, Bukchon, and the Han River because I had gained a lot of weight from sitting still and reading books." He added, "Members shared their walking records on KakaoTalk, and about once a month, we met offline to walk together. This process was documented in a book and eventually became a regular group."

Instructor Jo initially joined for the reading group but became passionate about walking and eventually became a walking exercise instructor. He runs or walks 10 km every morning around Seoul Botanical Garden in Gangseo-gu. He said, "It’s hard to exercise regularly alone, but through the group, we certify and encourage each other, which gives us the strength to continue." He also mentioned, "They keep track of and manage records to help steadily increase exercise volume." He proudly shared, "After years of building health and a sense of accomplishment through walking, I expanded my exercise to running and weight training, achieving a healthy body." In the walking group at Sungnyemun Hakdang, members write brief reflections or thoughts after exercising daily to encourage contemplation. Director Kim emphasized, "Ultimately, what Sungnyemun Hakdang pursues is 'health of body and mind.'"

We asked them to recommend good books for transcription and pleasant walking routes for people in their 40s to 60s. Director Kim said, "One of the books that received the best response from middle-aged members on site was Dr. Jung Hye-shin’s 'You Are Right.'" For transcription, he recommended Kim Hoon’s 'The Song of the Sword' as ideal. He also mentioned his favorite walking route: a one-hour one-way course from Gyeongbokgung Station on the subway, passing through Cheongun Literature Library, Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum, and leading to Suseongdong Valley. Instructor Jo introduced Gangseo Wetland Ecological Park along the Han River embankment between the southern end of Banghwa Bridge and the southern end of Haengju Bridge in Seoul as a must-visit walking course. "Walking along the trails through the reed fields, you can see various aquatic plants and migratory birds. In summer, the lush greenery makes you wonder if you’re in Seoul or Daegwallyeong." Secretary-General Kim, who recently moved to Gosan-dong, Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province, said, "The newly developed new town has well-prepared roads and walking paths. When you go out to explore, you can easily walk about 4 km around the neighborhood."