When you think of fall, the first thing that pops up in your head may be reading a book. Reading a book while feeling the cool autumn breeze can be a source of happiness for many people. In recent times, the influence of social media has prompted the resurgence of independent bookstores in Korea. Distinctive from typical bookstores, these bookstores sell their own unique merchandise and hold singular events such as book talks, reciting classes, and guest house services. Since the bookstores create a community that respects each individual’s liking, it has become a trend among the young generation to visit them. The Chonnam Tribune headed out to the streets in Gwangju to explore three independent bookstores: Nemo, Sonyeon’s Seo, and This Is not a Bookstore.
Keyword Service of "Sonyeon's Seo"
You can sense the regional atmosphere of Gwangju, walking down the streets of Chungjang-ro. Sonyeon's Seo is located right beside the Gwangju Cinema which is famous for its retro aesthetic. The bookstore started out with a single book, which shed light on violation of human rights at the "Brothers Home" incident from 1976 to 1987. Over time, the bookstore expanded, offering books on unsolved cases, as wll as a wide array of topics, such as social issues, philosophy, humanities, and social sciences. Additionally, a dedicated section houses books related to the May 18 Democratization Movement.
A defining feature of the bookshop is its "Keyword Service". When you provide two or more keywords reflecting your current interests, the owner curates a book selection based on your specified keywords. Hwang Ji-un, the resident writer at the bookshop, has been holding book talks and publishing newsletters. The newsletter mainly handles book curations and interviews with reference to the book shop. Rather than dealing with bestseller books, it is devoted to talking about the daily lives of ordinary people and books that respect diversity.
Cultural Art Space of “This Is not a Bookstore”
As you walk down the streets of Geumnam-ro 5(o)-ga you may discover numerous traditional shops. If you take a close look you might notice a distinctive store without a sign. “This Is not a Bookstore”, inspired by René Magritte’s “The Treachery of Images” (This Is not a Pipe) opened this year. It serves not only as a book store, but also as a cultural art space for people to relax and have fun. A visitor from Gwangju said, “Although the shop is small, it is a nice place to relax while enjoying a drink. I also liked the brief memos on the covers of the books. They made it much easier to choose a book.”
The bookstore, conjoined with a vegan café, displays a variety of books and frequently holds talk concerts. Concert participants get a chance to get involved in artistic activities. It also curates books for customers’ requests. Han Chae-won, the joint representative of the store, said “I recommend “Libro de sueños” by Jorge Luis Borges. Borges is a writer who criticized obligatory reading, so his literature may be more exciting to approach. Living in the harsh real world, “Libro de sueños” makes us imagine escaping from reality into a wonderful dream-like world.”
Book Talks and Picture Books of “Nemo”
Shinchang-dong is well known for its bracing view of the Yeongsan river. While enjoying your visit near the river, you can stop by a bookstore called “Nemo”, which means square in Korean. The name comes from the rectangular appearance of books. In the main entrance of Nemo, there are posters that promote book talks and courses along with commentary books and sample books for customers. The store is mainly divided into a space for primarily selling books and a space for invitation lectures, periodic book talks, and book discussion clubs. There are a wide variety of books that cover diverse subjects from essays to novels, picture books, art books, graphic novels, etc.
What distinguishes Nemo from other bookstores is that it displays not only novels but also picture books in their original language and Korean version side by side. Although they may look identical, upon a closer look, you may notice the slight differences in the shade of the background color or the composition of the text. If you want to read a book but do not have the time or enough motivation and energy, starting out with a picture book aimed at adults may be a good choice. Reading a picture book may seem like a childish and simple-minded activity, but as soon as you get immersed, you will discover the true significance a book can provide.
Find the Answers Inside a Book
After entering the digital era, many people have shifted their attention from reading a book and changed their focus to other activities. The Jeonnam Ilbo recently reported that the number of Gwangju’s independent bookstores ranked low on a national scale. Regardless, there is a great deal of special independent bookstores remaining in Gwangju. Visiting them can create vitality in your daily life. It gives us the opportunity to partake in our community and find our real selves through reading. Furthermore, reading can give you a new prospect to refresh your mind and inspire hope. Life sometimes may seem tough and harsh but the key to contentment may be inside a single book. This fall, try starting out at a local independent bookstore in Gwangju to find the truth of life.