When thinking about the word indie, some words that may come to mind are independent, small company, unpopular, and budget. However, these preconceived notions are not true. Indie books and films make up an important part of our contemporary history, and a huge portion of award-winning books and films are of the indie genre. Indie literature encompasses books that are simply outside of the major publishing companies, and these books are very delightful to read.

Specifically, Korean indie books are very important to South Korea’s literary history. Korea is very well-known for folklore, history, pop culture, and fiction, and one can immerse themselves in various indie bookstores throughout Seoul, South Korea.

1. History Book

The bookstore in Seochon, Seoul called History Book is very well-known for its large collection of inspiring historical books. The bookstore is also a themed café, so customers can enjoy a nicely brewed cup of coffee while enjoying a wholesome book. The space is large with high ceilings, and has a sitting area for customers to read books inside the store.

 

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There are many cultural books such as Korean Art: from the 19th Century to the Present by Charlotte Horlyck, Seoul, Authority City by Todd Henry, and other books about other countries and their cultures as well, such as Italian Travel translated by Young Ku Park.

2. Schrödinger’s Cat Bookstore (SRDG)

Schrödinger’s Cat Bookstore in Gangneung, Korea is located around two hours from Seoul. The bookstore is well-known for being a themed cat café as well, where you can enjoy the company of a variety of adorable cats while reading amusing books.

 

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The bookstore sells coffees, so people can spend a few hours having an immersive experience. There is an outdoor patio area where you can sit on the bench and hang out with Schrödinger’s cats. The patio is on the rooftop, so you can also appreciate the beautiful Gangneung view. The cats roam around on the grass turf, and the experience feels like you are having a delightful picnic.

The bookstore is generally filled with many artistic graphic arts books, such as the Mincho magazine series that were created by multiple authors. There are many illustrated cat books that the customers will find themselves enjoying to read as well.

3. Linernote Music Book

Linernote Music Book is a bookstore located in the Yeonnam Province of Seoul, South Korea. The bookstore has a studio-themed interior, where the ceilings are very tall and have a wide space for multiple tables. The bookstore has a performance area, instruments such as a piano, and audience tables.

 

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The indie bookstore is unique for having talented singers perform in front of the customers. They are well-known for having compilation music shows, and allow the visitors to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

There are many beautiful music literature books that teach about the musical history and culture of Korea. A book that is for sale at the store is Shinchon Communication by Dae Hong Kim, where the authors interview and explore the ways they remember the city Shinchon in their historical past.

Another book called If There is No Meaning, There is No Swing by Murakami Haruki explores his emotions and experiences as a musician. He also reviews other musicians throughout his book as well.

4. Saie Bookstore

Saie Bookstore is a quaint bookshop in the Yeonnam Province of Seoul. The bookstore is known for its travel theme. The store possesses a large collection of travel books meant for people who love traveling.

Filled with maps of different countries, souvenirs, travel tips, and everything one can possibly learn about traveling, Saie is a wonderful spot for people who want to learn about different countries and their cultures.

 

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A book sold at the store is called Tokyo Bookstore Explorer by Miseok Yang, that explores the traditions and cultural expressivity of Tokyo through the eyes of Koreans who frequent the country.

Another unique part about their bookstore is that they hold book travel events on their website, as well. People who want to attend the trip can travel with the authors to countries such as Japan and France, and enjoy the company of others throughout these events.

They have a limited amount of space for people to sign up for the events, and can be registered through the Saie Bookstore website.

5. Your Taste Film Bookstore

Your Taste Film Bookstore is an indie bookstore located in the Gwanak-gu Province of Seoul. The bookstore is unique for its movie and book theme. The bookstore is eccentric for serving coffee and alcohol to customers, while also displaying films for people to enjoy watching. The bookstore is filled with books about a huge variety of films throughout the different eras, and they sell many independent books for movie lovers.

 

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The book called Film Card Daejeon House is a book about the collection of movie cards that were used in the 1970s to the 1990s. The book teaches about the historical time when film cards were popular in Korea, before they transitioned to film posters.

6. Mystery Union Bookstore

The Mystery Union Bookstore is a beautiful bookstore located in Shinchon, Seoul. The bookstore is located near a train track, and is in a city that is surrounded by young talents who aspire to be singers and writers.

 

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The bookstore is home to indie books, but also sells many mainstream books as well. Some popular books sold are the Harry Potter series, Sherlock Holmes, and some indies that include The Amateur’s Road by Haik Park. The book is about mystery genre novels and the interpretation of these books by the author.

 

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The bookstore holds many book events with famous authors who have written the books sold at the store. The Mystery Union Bookstore is home to a wide array of inspiring books that customers love to read and enjoy.