Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

by Hwang Bo-Reum

‘You need rest to work, and to rest, you need a certain level of income to live comfortably,’ she said.

Isn’t that what life is about? Forging forward with the answer you have – stumbling along the way and picking yourself up – only to one day realise that the answer you’ve held on to for a long time is not the right one. When that happens, it’s time to look for the next answer. That’s how ordinary folks, like herself, live. Over our life span, the right answer will keep changing.

As with everything in life, reading is about the right timing.

To read is to see things from someone else’s perspective, and that naturally leads you to stop and look out for other people, rather than chase after success in the rat race. If more people read, I think the world would become a better place.

Books are not meant to remain in your mind, but in your heart. Maybe they exist in your mind too, but as something more than memories.

a person’s dream coming true could mean the collapse of someone else’s life.

Yeongju had once shared with him five reasons every neighbourhood should have an independent bookshop. That moment, he thought he was looking at the sixth. Gazing at the bookshop from the outside made him happy.

Emptiness was also a vibe.

When you have thoughts, just hold on to them, see where they take you, and as time passes, you’ll find out if you were right. Never decide right at the start if something is right or wrong.

Becoming family doesn’t mean you need to stay a family. If you’re not happy, they are not the people to keep beside you.’

‘That said, the problem is that our society is too obsessed with work, and working takes away too many things from us. It’s like we surface from the depths of work to get a breather, only to feel thoroughly spent. And when we return home after a long workday, we no longer have energy for leisure time or hobbies.

‘“When significant proportions of our time are spent working, recuperating from work, compensating for work, or doing the many things necessary in order to find, prepare for, and hold on to work, it becomes increasingly difficult to say how much of our time is truly our own.”’8

But these days, there’s not even a shred of hope. So, we don’t see a need to sacrifice anymore,’

‘But . . . does everyone really need something interesting? Why can’t I live a mundane life?’