Dotori Book Studio: A Bookstore for All Generations
A Sensibility-filled Independent Bookstore Hosting Separate Reading Groups for Adults and Children
Dotori Book Studio
In the Warm Scent of Books,
What is this bookstore where generations grow together?
It's the independent bookstore 'Dotori Book Studio', located in Suji-gu, Yongin-si!
Today, we met with CEO Byeon Hye-jin, who runs 'Dotori Book Studio', a place where you can become friends with books!
Hello. Before we begin the interview, could you please briefly introduce yourself?
Hello,
I am Byeon Hye-jin, and I run Dotori Book Studio in Gwanggyo Forest Village, Suji-gu, Yongin.
What kind of place is 'Dotori Book Studio'?
To describe Dotori Book Studio in one sentence, it is a space for reading, writing, and creating books.
It is a bookstore where both adults and children can comfortably visit, and at the same time, we also run a publishing company with the same name, Dotori Book Studio.
We carefully select and introduce books with sincerity, and plan and operate various book-related events and gatherings.
What motivated you to open 'Dotori Book Studio'?
Before running Dotori Book Studio, I worked as an editor, creating books.
I really enjoyed thinking about and creating books that didn't exist in the world, and I continued to do so for over 15 years, but there was always something missing.
I always had the desire to communicate with people who read books.
I wanted to have my own space where I could meet and empathize with people who read books, and enjoy a pleasant book-reading life.
And I wanted to become such a space for people who feel the same way as I do.
Most book readers are introverted, but it's different when they talk about books.
Those who have experienced how fun it is to read the same book and share a conversation will know.
What are the unique features of 'Dotori Book Studio' that differentiate it from other stores?
It is a space where children and adults can enjoy themselves simultaneously.
We strive to ensure that the bookstore is not just a space for adults, but also a place where children are welcomed without discrimination.
We want children to exist as independent readers who can enjoy content equal to that of adults.
We run children's reading groups in the same way as adult reading groups,
and we curate and introduce children's books with the same importance as adult books.
What concept and philosophy do you have when running 'Dotori Book Studio'?
The catchphrase I thought of when I first envisioned Dotori Book Studio was 'Dotori Book Studio, a place to become friends with books'.
I am still running it with the same unchanged heart.
I want it to be an open space not only for people who like and read books, but also for those who are not yet familiar with books but want to get to know them.
I meet many people who are concerned about running a bookstore because the reading population is decreasing every year.
Every time, I tell them it's okay. I want to be a bookstore that thinks about the reasons why people who like books are decreasing,
and a bookstore that constantly contemplates content that readers who find books difficult can enjoy without difficulty.
I have the ambition to make people who like books and those who are just getting to know them think, 'There are many fun things to do at Dotori Book Studio'.
Are there any memorable episodes while running the store?
It hasn't been 4 months since I started running it, so it might not be a big episode, but there have been a few touching moments.
There was a friend who didn't like books and was indifferent when he came to the bookstore,
but he couldn't take his eyes off the recommended books at Dotori Book Studio and even read them on the way home. I felt a great sense of accomplishment at this time.
I also remember a regular nine-year-old child who said that Dotori Book Studio is a place he wants to come to every day.
In a world where you can easily buy books with a few clicks at home, there are regular customers who only buy books at our bookstore instead of online bookstores.
And there are customers who cherish Dotori Book Studio and are constantly looking out for anything they can help with.
Recently, I participated in an independent publishing fair called 'Seoul Publishers Table', and I received a lot of help from everyone at this time.
Every moment spent with people who give their heart and time to Dotori Book Studio is an unforgettable memory for me.
Who would you recommend 'Dotori Book Studio' to?
I recommend it to everyone who likes books and is curious about books.
I think of choosing books as one of my personal talents!
Having worked in the book industry for 17 years, I have more books that I know than books that I have read.
Please feel free to stop by whenever you need a book recommendation. I am also confident in having enjoyable conversations about reading books.
Also, I think it would be great if people who want to interact with book readers could visit us.
We have various book clubs for adults and children.
What do you want to achieve or dream of at 'Dotori Book Studio' in the future?
Dotori Book Studio's goal is to become a bookstore that is loved by the citizens of Yongin and a place they want to visit.
I also want to continue online communication and introduce Dotori Book Studio's unique reading culture to those who are far away.
From next year, I plan to start a subscription service that suggests reading tailored to lifestyle, not limited to local bookstores.
My short-term dream is also to establish this subscription service stably.
Finally, a word to the citizens of Yongin & visitors who want to use 'Dotori Book Studio'
Welcome!
Welcome in advance.
Let's enjoy a pleasant book life together.
A warm space to become friends with books,
Dotori Book Studio sharing that joy!
Visit Dotori Book Studio
where adults and children read and talk together,
and create a special time to fill your emotions!
Source :https://blog.naver.com/touryongin/224051329633
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