English Bookstores in Korea for Book Lovers

One drawback of living or traveling in Korea is the difficulty of finding books in English. Good bookstores are rare, and if you only know one or two, you are unlikely to find the range of books you would like. Luckily, there ARE good English bookstores in Korea; you just have to know where and how to find them.

Korea’s English bookstore scene offers three tiers of discovery. The easiest to locate are the major chains, where a quick Google search will point you in the right direction. Then come the independent stores catering primarily to English readers; these require a bit more digging, but most expats eventually discover them through word-of-mouth or online forums. The real treasures, however, are the tiny secondhand bookshops tucked away in traditional markets throughout Korean cities. Finding these requires old-fashioned exploration; wandering neighborhoods, asking locals, and being willing to get a little lost.

List of English Bookstores in Korea

Popular English Bookstores in Korea

Arc N Book | Seoul

Arc N Book operates two Seoul branches in Jamsil and the City Hall area, both featuring the store’s Instagram-famous arc-shaped bookshelves. English titles make up a small portion of the inventory, but the bookstore compensates with a strong collection of art and photography books that appeal to international readers. The integrated café and thoughtfully designed reading nooks create a community-focused space where book lovers can linger, making it worth a visit even if you’re not planning to buy.

Kyobo Books | Nationwide

Kyobo Book Centre’s flagship store in the basement of the Kyobo Life Insurance Building is reputed to house approximately 2.3 million titles. It has a decent English section – offering new releases and bestsellers alongside a strong selection of classics. There’s also a specific children’s section for those with young bookworms in their lives. Not only is the store enormous, but it’s also furnished with many little nooks and benches to encourage shoppers to sit down and read – although these spaces are snatched up pretty quickly during busy periods, so you have to be fast!

Ink and Feather | Seocho-dong, Seoul & Busan

Korea’s largest English books-only bookstore, founded in 1994 with over 40,000 titles. Extensive collection of children’s, young adult, and educational books. There are two locations, one in Seocho (walking distance from Seocho Station, Line 2) and another in Busan.

Youngpoong Bookstore | Nationwide

The Jongno branch is Korea’s largest bookstore with over 10,600 square meters and 350,000 Korean and international books. The basement level houses the main book collection with an English section. Also sells stationery, gifts, electronics, and has cafés. Quality of English selection varies by location, with larger stores having a wider variety while smaller branches may have limited options.

Aladin Used Books | Multiple Locations

Aladin Used Books is a secondhand bookstore chain with locations throughout Seoul and beyond, including Sinchon, Jongno, and other neighborhoods. They carry both English adult and children’s books, though the English section is relatively small compared to the Korean books. The buy-and-sell model allows customers to trade in used books.

Hidden English Bookstores in Seoul

The Foreign Bookstore | Noksapyeong, Seoul

Foreign Book Store is exactly what a second hand bookshop should be. With its narrow aisles and tightly packed shelves, it invites keen browsers to scour the stacks looking for their next read. You’re bound to find some gems within the cosy clutter. For those looking for a bargain, you’ll find the shop’s collection of Lonely Planet guides particularly pleasing.

Book Park | Yongsan-gu, Seoul

This store is a must-see purely for its “Insta-worthy” aesthetic. With its cubby areas and various hidden spaces set up for reading, it’s like the treehouse/library hybrid you never knew you wanted. Although it has only a very limited range of English titles (mainly children’s fiction and art books), swing by to enjoy a beverage from the in-house café and soak up the atmosphere.

Sehwa’s English Bookstore | Gireum-dong, Seoul

Located near Gireum Station in a quieter neighborhood in Seoul, Sehwa’s opened in November 2020 and specializes exclusively in English books. About 65% of customers are foreigners, and it offers both new and secondhand books with a minimalist, peaceful interior. This is a genuine hidden gem that many expats haven’t discovered yet.

MAJOR CHAINS

Seoul

Books from the bestseller lists, books that have been or are about to be turned into major motion pictures, and classic literature are all available at any large chain, including Kyobo, Bandi and Lunis. Look for sections called English, Foreign, or even 외국문 (“waegugmum” foreign books).

In Seoul, there is a cluster of chains in the Jongno-gu area. Kyobo Book Centre, Korea’s largest bookstore, stocks about 2,300,000 books and on weekends draws over 120,000 customers. For a truly surreal/jam-packed experience, visit Kyobo or Youngpoong the day before Christmas or any other gift-giving occasion. If you frequent chains, get a membership card, which offers various benefits. Check out our article on how to use points cards in Korea.

If and when you manage to find a small store with Foreign books, be sure to make friends with the owner. If you are a repeat customer, they will start squirreling books away for you.

So get out there and get reading!