A string of book booths stops passersby and offers them brief refuge and relaxation from the bustle of the city.

This is the Gyeongui Line Book Street, a length of stalls and book-themed displays located near Hongik University in Mapo-gu District, Seoul. The book street stretches approximately 250 meters, starting at exit No. 6 of Hongik University Station, and reaching toward the Gyeongui Line Forest in Yeonnam-dong.

The book street opened on Oct. 28 after two years of construction, with the aim of giving the public more access to books.

The street has a 10-cabin train of six book booths run by publishing and printing houses, as well as four booths that host a variety of programs designed to introduce brand new and excellent books to the public. As visitors stroll down the forested pathway, the street gives off a feeling as if you're walking through a forest of books. Each of the eight book booths is signed with sanchaek (산책), which means “a walk.” There's the Travel Sanchaek, where one can leaf through travel books. The Children's Sanchaek offers a variety of children’s books and illustrated books, while the Art Sanchaek has books about art stacked on its bookshelves. There’s also the Humanities Sanchaek, the Literature Sanchaek for poems and novels, the Theme Sanchaek for indie publications, and the Future Reading Sanchaek for e-books. The Culture Sanchaek is where art and cultural events take place, while the Creation Sanchaek serves as a workshop for book-making or related arts.





A series of sculptures and works of art line the streets, catching the eyes of visitors. Book-shaped artworks made of copperplate represent Park Kyongni’s epic saga “The Land" (토지), Murakami Haruki’s full-length novel “Norwegian Wood,” and Jared Diamond’s book “Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies.” These books, turned into a pieces of copperplate artwork, are some of the top 100 must-read books before you become an adult, according to the organizers.

According to the Mapo-gu District Office, the book street welcomed more than 117,000 people in just two months between November and December. It welcomes about 2,700 book lovers on average on weekends, too.

Upcoming book-themed events are expected to bring more people to the neighborhood. Book fairs, exhibitions and lectures are on the way throughout the year. Authors, too, will host talks with their fans.

“The Gyeongui Line Book Street is now emerging as a new attraction across the Hongik University neighborhood,” said Park Hong-seop, head of Mapo-gu District. “Hopefully, many people will come take a stroll, find something good to read, and also give themselves some time to relax here.”

By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Yonhap News, the Gyeongui Line Book Street
jiae5853@korea.kr