Reopening a Closed Bookstore: A Promise Kept After Five Years

Jang Su-ryeon has reopened Bulkwang Bookstore, a place deeply intertwined with her life, five years after its initial closure. Having worked at the bookstore for 23 years in her hometown of Bulgwang-dong, Seoul, Jang considers it more than just a workplace; it was a space where she learned about life and witnessed the profound impact good books can have on people.

However, the changing times, with shifting commercial areas and readers accustomed to the discounts and rewards of online bookstores, led to the dominance of large chains and online platforms. Regional bookstores like Bulkwang struggled, and it eventually closed its doors in 2021. The former owner, wanting to minimize harm to employees and suppliers, decided to close but encouraged Jang to "start again, even on a smaller scale. You need to find killer content."

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Books are not just goods; they are the power to change someone's life, little by little.

Finding a new space proved challenging due to financial constraints and high rents. Jang had promised her colleagues that they would reopen before the spring semester of the following year, but it took five years to fulfill that commitment. During this time, her consistent response to inquiries about her well-being was, "I'm preparing to open a bookstore."

She insisted on securing a location that was easily discoverable, even if not on the first floor, believing that bookstores should be stumbled upon organically by people on their daily commutes or errands. This meant prioritizing street-facing locations over smaller, cheaper spaces in back alleys.

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Books don't disappear. Start again, even on a smaller scale. You need to find killer content.

The situation worsened over the five years, with regional bookstores facing even greater difficulties against online retailers and large distribution platforms. When asked why she persisted, Jang acknowledged that from a business perspective, it might not be logical. However, her experience at Bulkwang Bookstore, introducing good books and witnessing their power to change lives, became her greatest source of strength.

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I'm preparing to open a bookstore.

After the former owner passed away, Jang felt compelled to prove him wrong about her being "just a naive person." The reopened Bulkwang Bookstore, named Bulkwangmun-go Suryeon-jeom, welcomed customers who had waited years, some expressing gratitude for her perseverance and reminiscing about their childhoods spent there. One particularly touching moment was when a childhood visitor, now an author, returned with his published books, fulfilling the former owner's wish.

Jang recognizes the challenge of starting this venture at 51, but she feels this time is different because it's not a solo endeavor but a shared one with the people who waited for her return.

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I will prove that a bookstore is not just a place that sells books.