There is something very magical about walking into a bookstore. Being welcomed by thousands of books all waiting to be picked up & their pages flipped through. As a book lover, I find pure enjoyment in browsing aisles upon aisles of books all day long. Maybe because I find it comparable to finding peace from a walk in nature. Wandering through the bookstores in Seoul is somewhat reminiscent of being in the great outdoors. It could be the musky smell of paperbacks & aging hard covers. Or the tranquility found amongst the rows of wooden bookshelves as they hover above like evergreen trees. It all feels very familiar, yet like a faraway land.

“You see, bookshops are dreams built of wood & paper. They are time travel & escape & knowledge & power. They are, simply put, the best of places.”

Jen Campbell, The Bookshop Book

Learning a second language is a wonderful gift. But I only acknowledged its importance later in life. I owe my parents a great deal for placing me in extracurricular Korean language classes during my grade school years. Visiting bookstores in Seoul was so much more enjoyable as I was able to browse books in both languages. This proved especially beneficial while searching for exclusive Korean literature I could not find back in the states!

A New Wave of K-Bookstores in Seoul

As one of the world’s most technologically advanced countries, South Koreans (& many others) have started to read less. Out of convenience & habit, people are choosing their smart devices over a good old book. Through the years, several brick & mortar bookstores have noticed a decline in sales. This has forced shop owners to devise creative ways to bring back the simple joys of reading. 

Fortunately, for book lovers today, we can still find bookstores that not only serve as a place to purchase books. Many renovated bookstores in Seoul now allow visitors to linger & enjoy personal time within an aesthetically pleasing space. They have transformed into a safe haven to disconnect & find solace away from the stresses of daily life. Additionally, some shops even promote book signings, thought-provoking lectures, & other cultural events to attract more people to visit.

Many others gather at bookstores to socialize with friends at one of the adjoining restaurants or cafes. Seoul bookstores definitely have the concept of comfy, cozy Hygge vibes done right. In South Korea, coffee has become the number one caffeinated beverage of choice & there are several cafes to boost your addiction. Nowadays, bookstores are incorporating coffee into the mix to provide an enhanced book browsing experience. Ranging from concept book galleries to beloved independent gems, Seoul is definitely the city that has them all!

Arc N Book (아크 앤 북)

Hours: 10:30am – 10:00pm

As one of the top instagram-famous bookstores in Seoul, Arc N Book has a warm ambiance & vintage architecture that you just can’t miss. It is easily identifiable by the Harry Potter-esque book tunnel that welcomes you near the front entrance! Further in, you can find bright red telephone booths that house computer stations to help you locate books. Completely set up next to functional lamp posts & park benches, this space makes for another photo opportunity for the book lover!

Continue walking in & you will soon discover an international variety of restaurants that serve cuisines from all around the world. You can choose from pizza, sushi, dim sum, & even Thai food! If you are in the mood for specialty roast coffee, look for Sikmulhak (식물학 카페), or Botany Cafe, marked by its adorable monstera plant logo! Even more intriguing are the baristas that wear white lab coats as they prepare your coffee like it is science! Surrounded by the abundance of flora & fauna, along with warm lighting, you can definitely find undisturbed work time here. The unique atmosphere of this green themed cafe makes you feel as if you are inside a botanical research institute!

More than just a neighborhood bookstore in Seoul.

As mentioned before, the digital age is only continuing to grow & many standalone booksellers have become at risk for extinction. Therefore, many bookstores in Seoul have started catering to various lifestyles by selling other products in hopes of generating interest. This in turn also allows people to discover a new hobby or niche.

Arc N Book is a prime example of a specially curated bookstore in Seoul with its four themes: Daily, Weekend, Style, & Inspiration. The Daily section featured books on family, career, & everyday living. As I perused Korean cookbooks, I noticed a variety of teas & teawares alongside a selection of books on tea culture. One can see how this type of marketing display can entice & raise new opportunities. The Weekend area showcased hobbies, sports, & leisure. While the Style section had an expansive collection of art & fashion. Of course I particularly loved the Inspirational area that featured books on history, travel, movies, & philosophy.

Address for Arc N Book (new location): 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea

4th floor of Lotte World Mall

Book Park (북 파크)

Hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm

Book Park is located inside the multi-purpose cultural complex of Blue Square (블루 스퀘어) in the Yongsan district of Itaewon in Seoul. The bookstore occupies the second & third floors of the building with over 100,000 books on display. Another highly sought out photography location, Book Park features bookshelves that run from floor to ceiling, nearly 88 feet high!

As its name implies, Book Park was built with intentions of creating a space that is “as breezy & tranquil as reading at a park.” There are several reading nooks & hideaways that remind me of finding seclusion in a treehouse. Visitors can easily find seating at one of the 200 seats & 50 tables. There is also a brightly lit play zone filled with children’s books for the little ones to enjoy.

On the upper level, you will find restaurants as well as Holly’s Coffee, which is South Korea’s version of Starbucks. An open terrace on the third floor is inviting on warmer days & also allows fresh air to linger through. One major advantage that Book Park offers is allowing visitors to browse books with their food or drinks in hand.

English-only book lovers may find themselves limited with the small range of foreign titles. Furthermore, majority of the books here are arts & science related. This is partly due to Book Park’s mission in hopes of spreading more knowledge around these two topics. The bookstore frequently hosts supporting lectures & book seminars held inside its enormous conference hall.

Address for Book Park: 294 2F & 3F Itaewon-ro, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Young Poong Bookstore (영풍 문고)

Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm

Young Poong Bookstore (aka YP Books) is equivalent to America’s Barnes & Noble chain. They have several locations situated all around the major districts of Seoul & Busan as well as an extensive online store. We checked out the largest branch near Gwanghwamun & another one inside the COEX Mall next to the Starfield Library. The selection of English literature were far greater than any other Seoul bookstores I have come across. I spent a good solid hour browsing just the foreign titles & was able to narrow it down to one purchase! There were too many interesting books, but not enough luggage space to take them all back home!

Another one of the aforementioned curations, Young Poong Bookstore offers more than just books. Non-book lovers can enjoy the endless assortment of stationary items, art supplies, home decor, & other unique gifts. K-pop fans will delight themselves in the wide variety of media as well as rare music collectables.

Kyobo Bookstore (교보문고)

Hours: 9:30am – 10:00pm

Kyobo Bookstore is another popular bookstore chain in South Korea, with its flagship store located in the Gwanghwamun district of Seoul. The bookstore is known for its large collection of books, ranging from bestsellers to rare & hard-to-find titles. Approximately 2.3 million books are categorized electronically so you can easily find whatever selection you are looking for. Similar to Young Poong bookstores, it also carries a wide variety of stationery, office supplies, & gifts.

Kyobo Bookstore has been in operation since 1980 & has since become a cultural landmark in Korea. The flagship location spans over seven floors, with each floor dedicated to a different category of books. The store also features a café, a children’s play area, & a cultural center that hosts various events, including book signings & author talks. The bookstore has a dedicated section for Korean literature, which showcases the works of both established & emerging writers. It has also published its own literary magazine, which features works by Korean writers & introduces new literary trends. Visitors to the store can easily spend hours browsing the shelves or enjoying a cup of coffee while reading their newly purchased books.

Address for Kyobo Bookstore (Gwanghwamun Flagship store): 1 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Starfield Library (별마당 도서관)

Hours: 10:30am – 10:00pm

In Seoul you will find one of Asia’s largest underground shopping centers called the Starfield COEX Mall (코엑스 몰). Taking center stage inside this upscale mall, & rightfully so, is the mesmerizing Starfield Library. 

Built in May 31, 2017, the Starfield Library has become quite the instagrammable spot for bibliophiles, tourists, & Belle-wannabes alike! Reportedly, the Shinsegae conglomerate invested 6 billion KRW ($5.1 million) for its creation! Today, it costs nearly 500 million KRW ($430,000) a year to maintain it! Therefore, it only makes sense that it is situated in the ritzy, Gangnam district of Seoul. Yes, that is Gangnam Style!

A bibliophile’s dream book haven come true.

While technically not a bookstore in Seoul, Starfield Library still deserves an honorable mention in this post. You may have first seen this beautiful sanctuary on social media with its massive two stories of books galore! The library spans a whopping 2,800 square meters! There are approximately 50,000+ titles that decorate the three towering bookshelves, each standing up to 43 feet tall! Those who love to peruse international magazines may find a rare issue among the 400+ stocked! I don’t even know how people can reach the titles placed on the higher shelves!

The Starfield Library has a small portion of foreign books tucked in the corner next to the main escalator. There are also iPads with preloaded bestsellers available for those who prefer digital reading.

Unfortunately, for the locals, this library does not allow people to check out books to enjoy at home. Most visitors utilize the space to hang out, rather than a peaceful place to read or study. The quietest area where we found people focused on a book or their laptops, was on the second level. Here, there were plenty of tables with outlets, as well as a small cafe & grocery shop to fuel your brain.

Address for Starfield Library at the Coex Mall: 955-9 Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Common Korean Words & Phrases to Impress Your Book Lover ❤️

Angella’s Travel Tips

• Even if you can’t read Korean, I still highly recommend a visit to one of the numerous bookstores around Seoul. It is such a unique sensory experience, where you can temporarily get away from all the hustle & bustle of the city.
• If you need assistance in searching for a particular book, do not be afraid to ask customer service. If English is lacking, you can also show them a photo of the book cover to communicate your needs.
• Overall, the English books in South Korea were comparable in price to US standards. While you can’t beat the deals offered by massive online retailers, I prefer to support the conventional bookstores whenever I can.
• Keep in mind that most of the imported books come shrink-wrapped. This is probably to maintain the integrity of the rarely sold foreign titles. Personally, I fancy skimming through several pages of a book before deciding to purchase it. If you are a picky bookworm like me, you can first preview the book online using the bookstore’s free Wi-Fi!
• Fellow book lovers, don’t forget to check out my top 5 books about Korea! ❤️