Itaewon Books (Korean: 이태원북스), formerly Itaewon Foreign Bookstore,[1][2] is a secondhand bookstore in Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea that specializes in English-language books. Founded in 1973, it is the oldest English-only secondhand book store in Seoul.[1][2] It is a designated Seoul Future Heritage, and has remained a family business. By 2024, it was run by the daughter of the founder.[1]
| Formerly | Itaewon Foreign Bookstore |
|---|---|
| Industry | Secondhand books |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Choi Ki-woong |
| Headquarters | 208 Noksapyeong-daero, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea |
| Website | instagram |
It opened in 1973. It was founded by Choi Ki-woong; Choi continued to operate the business even by 2011.[2] He had been trading books since the 1960s, although then without a storefront. He gathered texts he could find that were in English, including American department store catalogues, novels, and magazines. He sold them to bookstores in Seoul. He used a handcart for transporting the books.[2] In 1985, the store moved locations. A 2024 article reported that Choi's daughter Choi Mi-ra was the owner of the business.[1]
See also
edit- Dongyang Bookstore – one of the oldest active bookstores in Seoul
References
edit- ^ a b c d "From used cookbooks to Virginia Woolf, Seoul's independent English bookstores have you covered". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2024-02-10. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ a b c d 이, 다영 (2011-03-04). "Used book bliss in Seoul". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2024-10-20.