VOL.80/2025.03

Suwon Independent Bookstores

Gathering people and creating a stories

 

2020.02.03

 

 

Suwon was the first new town planned in the world (King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of Chosun Dynasty) and Hwaseong Fortress, located in the center of the city, is a gem of fortress culture. Designated as a World Cultural Heritage in 1977, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was highly praised for its artistic values. A street full of abundant culture and history with modern senses surrounds the Fortress. And there is an independent bookstore on the street where you can experience the atmosphere and people of the neighborhood, and the culture and values of the region. We introduce you to, “Magnet & Gravity” and “Broccoli_Soop”, two of the flagship independent bookstores of Suwon.

 

 

Magnet & Gravity

 

A  201, 49, Segwon-ro 316 beon-gil, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do.
H  Monday-Saturday, 11am-7pm
T  82-10-4479-0718
W  Instagram : @magandgra

 

 

The independent bookstore “Magnet & Gravity”, run by siblings So-Young and Yoo-Jin, is located on the second floor of an apartment in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon. The sunlight shining through four wide windows illumiates the selection of books and attracts readers like a magnet and gravity, just as the name describes. The siblings, So-Young, a keen expert in science and art, and Yoo-Jin, a photography-majored florist, are also writers and wrote a book together. As skilled book people with different styles, they run “Culture Salons” and have reading clubs, providing a space for writers and readers to gather. The bookkeeper, as a good mother with a child, recommends a fine book for children and parents visiting the bookstore. She sits for consultations with a calm and quiet voice and also recommends best-suiting books to schools, organizations, and companies. Drinks are not sold in a menu separately, but when a visitor pays an hourly fee of 5,000 won, the bookkeeper provides a cup of “tea of the day” while reading the book he or she has bought.

 

Books So-Young and Yoo-Jin wrote together and some separately.
Late last year, So-Young published her first book Masterpiece in the Lab as a recover edition.
She also published a mook (magazine book) titled Artcollective Sogyeok that takes a deep look at one artist together with her 8 acquaintances.

From top left, clockwise:
My First Flower Decoration, Lee Yoo-Jin, Happy Dream Pub.
My First Christmas Decoration from A to Z, Lee Yoo-Jin, Happy Dream Pub.
Happy Playground for Moms, Lee So-Young, Omybook.
How Do Artists Draw, Lee So-Young, Mojosa.
Masterpiece in the Lab, Lee So-Young, Mojosa.
The 1st Artcollective Sogyeok, Editorial Office in Artcollective, Artcollective Sogyeok.

 

 

 

 

 

Broccoli_Soop

 

A  2nd floor, 21-10, Hwaseomun-ro 32 beon-gil, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do
H  Everyday, 12pm~7pm
T  82-31-243-7389
W  blog.naver.com/broccoli_soop

 

 

There is a little forest at the entrance of an alley in Haenggung-dong, Suwon. It is Broccoli_Soop (soop means forest), an alley bookstore. A small signboard marks the location for visitors. This bookstore, located in an alley which is also the birthplace of artist Na Hye-Sok, the first woman artist in Korea, was set up by two people that once worked in the fashion industry. This background has contributed to a unique atmosphere in parts of the bookstore. Books shelved in between miniature items, such as artworks, are a charming point for visitors. Dotted around the store, little stickers in the form of manuscript paper written and curated by the bookkeeper offer customers good advice.
Hand drip coffee and tea are sold in the bar-style counter/ kitchen in the center of the bookstore. The mood in the bookstore is cozy as if a little flavor of the alley was brought inside. It is a friendly space where the picture book writer living in the neighborhood drops by and has a little chat with the bookkeeper. Book concerts and lectures are often held in the bookstore. It serves as a sarangbang (guest room) of the neighborhood, carrying out collaborations with the regional culture and art. Books written by writers in Suwon can be easily found; the hand-written letter saying “It is a pleasure to be introducing my book” draws attention. One pencil with the name of the bookstore carved on it is given as a gift when purchasing books for more than 10,000 won.

 

 

 

 

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Written by Kwon Ji-Hye