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| The Place |
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Vol.6 Winter 2009
(Page 46-49) |
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Hongdae |
 By Cho Han-woong(copywriter, author) |
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| 1. Jageopsil (Studio) |
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Book Cafes, Publishing Houses,
and Coffee Streets
Every fall, the streets of Hongdae fill with books.
Hundreds of publishers make use of Hongdae’s popular alleyways to host
diverse events and sell their books directly at a reduced price.
Book festivals are a natural fit for this neighborhood.
Many young Koreans make a beeline for Hongdae. The charming
streets are lined with clubs, and a flea market is held every weekend.
But more than that, Hongdae’s popularity is due to its many
unique cafes. Saju (four pillars of destiny) cafes where you can have
your fortune read, pet cafes where you can take your dog, dentist
cafes where you can have your teeth checked, gallery cafes where
you can appreciate art—the list goes on! But among these many
colorful cafes, the most prominent are the book cafes. Cafes with
anywhere from dozens to thousands of books await customers. And
the book titles run the gamut. Some cafes specialize in photography
books, while others collect only foreign books. Of course, some
provide many books regardless of genre so that customers may take
their pick. One cafe even gives a free cup of coffee to customers
who donate their own used books.
In addition to book cafes, Hongdae is also home to many
publishing houses. It would be no exaggeration to say that fully
half of all Korean publishers are located in Hongdae. There is also
active exchange between book cafes and publishers. When a new
book comes out, publishers promote them to book cafes, and book
signings and book release parties are frequently held in cafes as
well. Every autumn, Hongdae’s “parking street” is rented out for
the Seoul Wow Book Festival. There, hundreds of publishers gather
to sell their books directly at reduced prices, and many different
events are held. |
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2. Seoul Wowbook Festival’s wow book market
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3. Geurimchaek Sangsang (Picturebooks Store & Café Imagination) |
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1. Today's Coffee, Vol. 1 & 2
Kisun, Today's Coffee, anibooks
2009, 187p, ISBN 978-89-5919-245-8
2. Cafes Speak To Me
Kim Huk, Book Studio Maho
2009, 216p, ISBN 978-89-961500-1-5 |
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For busy urbanites, sipping coffee and reading a book in a cafe is
one of life’s small pleasures. Owning their own small cafe is also a
dream for many young Koreans in their 20s and 30s. Of course,
for most, this dream is just a fantasy, like stretching out with a glass
of beer beneath a palm tree to take a nap. But as more cafes open
in Hongdae, it is clear that more people are finding the courage to
pursue that dream. The exploding interest in coffee is also due to
the popularity of the TV show Coffee Prince, which first aired a few
years ago. It is not surprising then that book cafes have many books
related to coffee and cafes. Books on coffee, books on cafes both
inside and outside Korea, informational books on opening cafes—
the publication of such titles continues, reflecting the popularity
of Hongdae’s book cafes. Below is a list of recommended books on
cafes. They offer a glimpse into young Koreans’ fascination with
cafes and Hongdae’s cafe culture. |
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1,3. Geurimchaek Sangsang (Picturebooks Store & Café Imagination) 2. Jageopsil (Studio) 4,8,9. Toy
5. Changbakkeul Bwa Barami Bulgo Iseo Haruneun Bukjjogeseo Haruneun Seojjogeseo (Look Outside the Window, The wind is Blowing, One Day From the North, One Day From the West)
6. Iri (Yiri Café) 7. Tokkiui Jihye (Wisdom Rabbit)
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Today's Coffee, Vol. 1 & 2
The comic book Today's Coffee is a friendly primer on all things
coffee, geared towards young women in their 20s who are the
primary patrons of cafes. Set in a fictional cafe in Hongdae, the
comic book includes everything from funny episodes and love
stories, to information about coffee. Readers learn the basics about
coffee while enjoying cute drawings and sweet stories.
A Cafe for Every Day
A Cafe for Every Day is a collection of the writer’s newspaper
columns extolling his love of cafes. His straightforward writing
style and cafe stories offer a glimpse of the true charm of Hongdae’s
cafes. The author includes a listing of contact information for all of
the cafes mentioned in the book.
Cafes Speak To Me
Cafe owners are an important part of the attraction of Hongdae
cafes. They come from many different occupations. As lovers of
the arts, as well as coffee, they manage their cafes as places for
communication. As the owners’ personalities define the cafes’ personalities, this book is a collection of interviews with cafe
owners. Their thoughts on cafes and on their business philosophy
expressed in their interviews help to lift the veil on Hongdae’s
enigmatic cafes.
The Romantic Job
This is the story of the difficulties one ordinary man faced while
starting his own cafe. Told through a series of essays, the book
explains the thoughts of young people who love cafes.
*Hongdae’s book cafes can be easily reached by subway. Hongik University Station
and Hapjeong Station on line 2, and Sangsu Station on line 6 all serve the area. Most
of the cafes are located within the triangle formed by these three stations.
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1. The Romantic Job
Cho Han-woong, Maumsanchack
2009, 232p, ISBN 978-89-6090-032-5
2. A Cafe for Every Day
Yi Myung-suk, Hyohyung Publishing Co.
2009, 315p, ISBN 978-89-5872-075-1 |
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