Kyobo Bookstore (교보문고)

Learn Korean!

책 (chaek) means book.

Fun Facts

Was the largest bookstore in Korea when it was founded in 1980.
Recognized by the Future Heritage of Seoul program.
Featured in the Kdrama Coffee Prince.

Situated next to Gwanghwamun Square in the basement of the Kyobo Life Building, the Kyobo Bookstore holds significant cultural importance symbolizing Korea’s rich literary heritage and has become a vibrant cultural hub for book lovers and families alike. Founded in 1980 it was a pioneering force in Korea’s publishing industry, embracing the mantra that greets visitors at the front door, “people make books, books make people”. This flagship branch spans an impressive 8,900 square meters that contains 11 sections of easy navigation for readers who seek a wide variety of literary selections. From specialized shops for stationary and digital devices, to exhibition spaces and cafes, Kyobo provides a diverse experience. The store also hosts monthly events, including author meet-ups, which encourage community engagement and exploration.

Travel Tips

The bookstore can be especially crowded on weekends. Try visiting during the week.
Stop for breakfast in the Paris Croissant café upstairs, then ride the back elevator down to the bookstore below.

Address

English: 1, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hangeul: 서울특별시 종로구 종로 1

I love to read and one of the souvenirs I really wanted to buy for myself was a book in Korean. There were tons of books here in English and after a couple minutes of wandering I found the corner where all the language learning books are kept. I was able to buy a few different books that not only were traditional fairy tales written in Hangeul, but also serve as lesson books providing grammar and vocabulary lessons along the way. My reading skill still need a lot of work, but these books are great for practicing! I could’ve spent hours in this store and can’t wait to go back on our next trip.

Kyobo reminds me a lot of our larger bookstores in the U.S. with one exception – it is ENORMOUS! It is like Barnes and Noble on steroids! The multi-story, flagship store in Gwanghwamun carries just about everything. If you cannot find what you are looking for here – then it probably does not exist. I wanted to pick up a few “coffee table” books with pictures of South Korea sites. Surprisingly, I was not able to find any books at the different tourist locations. However, I was able to find exactly what I wanted in Kyobo. They had many choices available in a variety of languages. Many of the books are also available for ordering online, for those of us who do not want to carry heavy books in our luggage. I would normally not consider a book store a tourist location, but a visit to Kyobo is definitely worthwhile. I want to come back again on our next visit!