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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

A 'Forest of Stories' Cultivated in an Eco-City

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A couple who previously ran a small publishing house and bookstore in Tongyeong have opened a new book and culture space called 'Trees at Night' in Suncheon's old downtown.
  • The space, a renovated old building, houses 7,000 books and aims to inspire content creators and residents in the Jeollanam-do region.
  • The project is part of Suncheon's initiative to create an animation and webtoon cluster, with the couple selected as one of the key content producers.

In the heart of Suncheon's old downtown, a new cultural hub named 'Trees at Night' has opened, breathing new life into a renovated historic building. The space is the brainchild of Jeong Eun-yeong and Kang Yong-sang, a couple who previously established the small publishing house 'Nohaeui Bomnal' and the bookstore 'Bomnal's Bookstore' in Tongyeong.

After running their businesses in Tongyeong for nearly 15 years, the couple sought a new environment. They explored various cities before settling on Suncheon, drawn by its ecological beauty, proximity to Tongyeong, and good transportation links. Their vision for 'Trees at Night' is to create an inspiring space for content creators and residents of the Jeollanam-do region, stocking around 7,000 books.

Bookstores are similar to urban design. I designed the furniture with consideration for the proportion of the display area for 7,000 books, with their spines and covers visible.

— Kang Yong-sangExplaining his design philosophy for the 'Trees at Night' space, drawing parallels to urban planning and his previous work.

The venture gained momentum when Suncheon City announced plans for an 'Animation and Webtoon Cluster' in the old downtown area. Jeong and Kang's proposal for a creative base to inspire content producers was selected among over 30 companies, granting them access to three floors of a four-story building. This opportunity has allowed Kang, an architect and furniture designer, to fully leverage his skills in spatial planning, designing the bookstore with a focus on how books are displayed and experienced.

The 'Trees at Night' project also emphasizes collaboration. The couple has brought on board Cho Tae-yang, CEO of the independent bookstore 'Golmokchaekbang Seoseongida,' and Kim Ju-eun, CEO of 'Chaekbang Simda,' which specializes in independent publications. Cho curates the literature and humanities sections, while Kim manages independent publications, graphic novels, and children's books. This collaborative spirit aims to foster a vibrant cultural ecosystem within Suncheon, despite the broader challenges of regional decline and the publishing crisis.

If Tongyeong's 'Bomnal's Bookstore' was a place for travelers, I wanted to make 'Trees at Night' a space that inspires residents of the Jeollanam-do region and content creators.

— Kang Yong-sangDifferentiating the purpose and target audience of the new Suncheon bookstore compared to their previous one in Tongyeong.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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