It was an extremely hot day. Thankfully, my destination was not far from the subway station. Upon stepping out of the Jamsilnaru station's Exit 1, the Seoul Book Repository immediately came into view.

I ended up visiting this spot after coming across a snapshot on Instagram. Known as "Seoul Chaekbogo," this municipally-run used bookstore is a popular destination for locals and tourists.

There is no entrance fee, and it closes every Monday. Those who prefer to drive can also take advantage of the nearby parking lot. (260 won per 5 minutes)

Upon entering, I was greeted with this truly wonderful scene. Bookshelves are stacked on top in an endless circular arch shape. Like a library cave. And the unique, not unpleasant scent of old books wafted through the air.

​I came here on a whim after seeing a picture on Instagram, so I know almost nothing about this place. Let's check out what this space is all about.

Regardless of era, field, or nationality, there was a wide variety of books on display. One of the most striking was the March 1976 edition of 'Deep-Rooted Tree,' which was published over half a century ago. It was the very first issue of the publication.

This place functions as a library, a bookstore, and a secondhand bookshop, all created by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Although I thought it was a new establishment, it has actually been around for five years.

There are numerous social media posts about this spot, and it seems to have served as a backdrop for many K-dramas as well.

Large and small used bookstores from all over Seoul have come together to fill and decorate this space. There are many participating bookstores, which means there’s a huge variety of books on offer, covering many different topics.

When I was in college, I read a lot—about one book every two days. If this place had existed back then, I would have visited it almost every day.

You can buy books here, and they’re very affordable, usually costing less than ten thousand won. However, since it’s a used bookstore, new books are rare. Finding the exact book you want might be a bit tricky, but if you do find it, it will feel like hitting the jackpot.

Another interesting thing is that you can learn about the stories of the bookstore owners who contributed to this space.

I believe they opened bookstores because they liked books, but many had more fascinating histories. 

Some had been running bookstores for generations, while others worked at book distributors. Some worked at medical equipment companies or civil engineering firms before opening bookstores, reminding me that life has no right answers.

The Dongmyo area may be the only bag materials market in the country. And many long-standing, affordable, and wonderful eateries exist. As a bag maker and seller, Dongmyo is my most trusted and comfortable place for me.

Therefore, a story about a bookshop owner in the Dongmyo area who has been open for 20 years came to my attention.

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One wall was filled with books from a retired professor.

One book called Soviet Cosmonauts (Die Kosmonauten) caught my attention. I assumed it was a fascinating Soviet space mission history book, but I was wrong. It's a fiction about a cosmonaut who fell short of returning to Earth.

Nice, large space with comfortable seats to read.

I found a massive bookshelf with literature collections. Each book costs 3,000 won. If you like complete collections of literature, head there now.

In Seoul Chaekbogo, you can find many old items written in letters. People who like to collect should go there.

This is the very first issue of Sports Chosun newspaper.

Something like it was published during the Joseon Dynasty. It is, as expected, a book from the early 1900s. It's pretty cool that this kind of book still exists and that it only costs 100,000 won.

There is also a café and cozy spaces to use laptops. It looks like anyone can use it, even if they don't buy coffee.

You should go there if you love books. It's a place for locals and tourists to visit in Seoul where you can enjoy the poetic mood that comes from reading old books. This was about Seoul Chaekbogo, located in Jamsil, Songpa-gu.

 

 

Address : 1 Ogeum-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul  OPEN GOOGLE MAP

Phone : +82-2-6951-4979

Operation Hours : Tue-Fri : 11:00-20:00, Sat-Sun : 10:00-20:00 (Monday closed)

Instagram : Click for more images

 

Source : https://blog.naver.com/dlsen0115/223525260737

Writer : dlsen0115

Special thanks to dlsen0115

 

seoul chaekbogo bookbogo jamsil songpa

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