Designing Your Life: A Journey to Find a Book in Gochang Book Town
Embark on a journey to discover a book that designs your life.
In Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, a tranquil area known for its fertile lands, a remarkable event has unfolded in Jiseok-ri, Daesan-myeon. This small farming village, once facing the threat of population decline, has been reborn as South Korea's first 'Book Town'.
Rather than a shopping complex housing various bookstores, this is a 'community-style book town' where six households of booksellers, who place books at the heart of their lives, have relocated to build their homes and bookstores, and live by farming together.
This incredible transformation was initiated by Lee Yun-ho, a cultural critic and the village chief. During a lecture in Gwangju, Chief Lee proposed a model that goes beyond simply benchmarking Hay-on-Wye, the famous book town in Wales.
He presented a sustainable living model tailored to the realities of rural Korea. Booksellers who resonated with this vision established a 'three-year principle,' committing to keeping their bookstores open every day for three years without selling their stores or homes. After two years of construction, they held a soft opening in July and officially opened on October 11, solidifying their shared dream.
Unlike used bookstores that focus on old books, Gochang Book Town is characterized by a collection of new, independent bookstores with distinct themes and philosophies. It aims to be a 'town to buy books,' a 'town to stay and read books,' and a 'healing town providing rest and relaxation.' For modern individuals weary of complex urban life, it serves as a sanctuary offering moments of contemplation amidst books and nature.
What stories will unfold in this beautiful village woven together by books and people? Now, let's open the doors of Gochang Book Town and explore the unique stories of its six bookstores.
Tricycle - Roastery Cafe & Humanities Bookstore
Lee Yun-ho's 'Tricycle' is a philosophy bookstore that explores fundamental questions about humanity and life, combined with a roastery cafe serving fragrant coffee. Like a tricycle that seems to waver but ultimately moves forward, this space aims to be a place where life's 고민(worries) and contemplation coexist.
Based on his extensive experience lecturing in humanities, the bookseller curates philosophical books that can feel difficult, tailoring them to the public's level. Sipping freshly roasted coffee while gazing at the Gochang scenery outside the window can clear a busy mind and deepen philosophical reflection.
Beyond selling books, it serves as a humanities academy that helps individuals discover themselves through books, coffee, and conversation. The village chief, critic Lee Yun-ho, and his wife, as booksellers, anchor the heart of the village.
NO.9 - Graphic Novel Bookstore
'NO.9' is a graphic novel bookstore that recognizes comics as the 'ninth art' and delves into them deeply. It specializes in domestic and international graphic novels and comic-related books with outstanding artistry and narrative, rediscovering the value of comics. It also offers a book stay space.
Lee Jun-ho, the bookseller and secretary-general of Gochang Book Town, uses his deep affection for and knowledge of comics to help readers open their eyes to a new world of visual art.
A whiskey bar is set up in one corner of the bookstore, allowing visitors to extend their time for contemplation by savoring whiskey with soft music after reading a book. This unique combination of reading comic books and sipping whiskey breaks the stereotype of a bookstore and offers a new cultural experience, which is the special charm of NO.9.
Chorong and Ssuk - Yun Dong-ju Poetry & Independent Publications Bookstore
'Chorong and Ssuk' is a space themed around the poet Yun Dong-ju and a bookstore specializing in independent publications. It captures a pure and nature-friendly sensibility, just like its name.
You can find classical poetry collections centered on Yun Dong-ju's poems and books studying him. At the same time, it curates and introduces independent publications that contain individual voices and personalities that are difficult to find in the mainstream publishing market.
Booksellers Kim Cheol-hong and Park Suk-hee conduct independent publishing workshops and serve as a cultural platform for discovering potential writers and communicating with readers. It is a haven for those who love the physicality of books and cherish the tactile sensation of handmade books.
It operates as an unmanned bookstore on weekdays due to work-related reasons in Gwangju, and on weekends, you can meet Chorong and Ssuk and experience a space where pure literary passion and a free creative spirit come alive.
Mangrove - Ecological Bookstore by a Tree Doctor and Accidental Farmer
'Mangrove' is a specialized ecological bookstore that contemplates the health of the Earth and the coexistence of humans. Tree doctor Hwang Kyung-sun, the bookseller, has a unique background as a 'tree doctor' and an 'accidental farmer,' and based on their knowledge and experience, they introduce in-depth books on ecology, agriculture, environmental issues, and sustainable living.
Just as mangrove forests take root in seawater and create a foundation for life, it aims to be a space for finding wisdom for a sustainable future amidst the complex problems of modern society.
This bookstore has made a significant contribution to the creation of today's Gochang Book Town. As the owner of the land where the book town was built, they offered the land to the booksellers at a low price to create the book town.
There is a communal garden cultivated by the booksellers nearby, allowing visitors to connect the ecological knowledge learned from books with actual rural life. Mangrove is a bookstore that encourages practical reading that reflects on the relationship between nature and humans and considers the environment.
Carpenter's Bookshop - Travel & DIY Bookstore
'Carpenter's Bookshop' is a unique themed bookstore that combines travel, DIY (woodworking), and humanities, based on the inspiration the bookseller gained from working as a carpenter. It is filled with travel essays and geography books that explore the world, and books related to the manual skills (DIY) of creating something yourself.
Bookseller Park Se-wook applied the knowledge gained through books to his actual life and projected the 'life of a carpenter' who creates his own space into the bookstore. Small woodworking experiences and workshops are held in one corner of the bookstore, providing visitors with the experience of directly implementing the wisdom learned from books. Carpenter's Bookshop awakens readers to the value of 'learning and execution' and inspires those who want to expand their lives through books.
Gorilla - Picture Book Bookstore for Everyone
'Bookstore Gorilla' is a picture book specialty bookstore that was inspired by the gorilla in the famous British picture book author Anthony Browne. Picture books are no longer just for children. The deep comfort and philosophy contained in short texts and intense illustrations provide a powerful healing power for tired adults as well.
Booksellers Lee Ji-yeon and Kim Seong-ryeol carefully select and introduce masterpieces of domestic and international picture books, and operate regular reading sessions and picture book therapy programs. The bright and warm space design helps visitors easily fall into the world of picture books. Bookstore Gorilla is a space open to readers of all ages who want to awaken pure emotions and gain comfort in life through picture books.
Shared Bookshelf - Rebook
'Rebook,' jointly operated by the six booksellers, is a shared bookshelf that sells donated used books. The profits here are used for the joint operation of the book town, and it also serves as a community center where villagers gather for meetings. Rebook is an important focal point for maintaining the village community through the virtuous cycle of books.
Vision of Gochang Book Town
The birth of Gochang Book Town is attracting great expectations as a sustainable regional regeneration model beyond a cultural phenomenon. The village's vision is to go beyond selling books and realize a 'community of life that stays and grows with books.' We heard about the vision of Gochang Book Town from the village chief and secretary-general.
First, it is a hub for powerful cultural programs. The book town plans to hold a variety of cultural events year-round that highlight the individuality of each bookstore, such as book clubs, author invitation lectures, children's picture book readings, independent publishing workshops, and ecological garden experiences. In particular, the possibility of solidarity with the nearby 'Book Village Harry' is also high, and the Gochang area will establish itself as a center of Korea's book culture ecosystem.
Second, it is revitalizing the local economy through tourism. The book town has created accommodation facilities so that visitors can stay overnight and get complete rest in the books and nature of Gochang. Visitors are exposed to local specialties through books and generate consumption linked to surrounding tourist attractions, injecting new economic vitality into rural areas.
Third, it is a guardian of the book ecosystem. The people of Book Town share a strong sense of mission to protect and expand the value of offline bookstores, as evidenced by the principle of opening bookstores without holidays for three years. Based on the wisdom and community spirit gained through books, they are transforming offline bookstores, which were considered a declining industry, into the most creative and sustainable spaces. Gochang Book Town is also presenting a new blueprint for life that provides both economic foundation and cultural satisfaction to future returnees.
A Gochang Book Town trip to find a book to design your life.
Gochang Book Town is the result of the courage and dreams of people who want to rediscover the value of life through books. The six booksellers curate books with their own individuality and themes, asking visitors deep questions such as 'Who am I?' and 'How should I live?'
It is a place to move beyond the 'act of buying' books and 'stay, contemplate, and design a new life' with books. Take a break from the noise of the busy city and find your own book under the clear air and sunshine of Gochang.
Gochang Book Town is a new history of Korean book culture that has just opened its first page. Your visit will be a valuable participation that will inject new vitality into this beautiful village story. Why not leave for Gochang today to find the one book that will move your heart? The most beautiful landscape of life woven by books and people awaits you here in Gochang Book Town.
글, 사진 = 심인섭 기자
Source :https://blog.naver.com/jbgokr/224086732554
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