When we travel or move abroad, there are often specific home comforts we seek out. For me, it’s English books. And so, what a delight it was to find the excellent Itaewon Foreign Bookstore in the heart of Korea’s capital. The store is owned by a delightfully grumpy old Korean man, who has been known to occasionally close and open the store as and when he feels like it (it’s part of his charm).
Itaewon Foreign Bookstore (이태원 외국서점)
Almost every book in the store is written in English, with a few Japanese and Chinese books here and there, The store survives by its constant circulation of trade-ins. Every book is second-hand and, therefore, very reasonably priced.
Read More: How to Spend 24 Hours in Hongdae
When visiting Seoul, it is almost a definite that travellers will end up in Itaewon, what with it being such a hub of foreign restaurants, supermarkets, and souvenir stores. And so, there is no better place for a store with as European a feel as this one. Because the store is tiny, heavily stocked, and deals exclusively with second-hand books, it has a musty smell and a dusty feel that is undeniably quaint and fitting for its purpose.
Despite its size, you’ll undoubtedly find a way to while away an hour browsing its hidden gems and skimming through its older tomes. If this store were to be suddenly airlifted from Seoul and dropped into Wales’s Hay-on-Wye or Scotland’s Wigtown, nobody would bat an eye.
Of course, the nature of this bookstore means that it may not stock what you are looking for, but it will absolutely find a way to surprise you. The books are loosely categorised into such types and genres as ‘classic’, ‘history,’ and ‘crime’, but it is still very much unpredictable, and often unusual.
And so, if you find yourself in Seoul, pluck up the courage to converse with the grumpy old man and pick up an old copy of A Tale of Two Cities, just to say you found this ancient copy of Dickens in a dusty little room in Seoul, of all places.
Seoul Subway – Noksapyeong Station, line 6, exit 2 | 533 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Read More: The Ultimate 3-Day Seoul Itinerary
What To Do Nearby
Itaewon and Noksapyeong are both near to Namsan Tower where there are plenty of food/cafes, and several museums. Museums include: The National Museum of Korea, the D Museum, War Memorial of Korea, and the National Museum of Korea. You can also visit our other favourite Seoul bookstore What the Book (article soon).
Food and Drink
The hub of Western and Middle Eastern food in Seoul Korea, you won’t be short of places to dine in Itaewon. These are a couple of picks that won’t disappoint.
Fat Cat Neighbourhood Bistro
Our favourite nearby stop for excellent baguettes and salads, wonderful coffee, and homebrewed kombucha. Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options here too.
Yongsan-gu, Yongsandong 2(i)-ga, 46-8 -ga, South Korea, Seoul,
Bao Bar
There are no words for how delicious the bao are at this restaurant. Incidentally, we named this website after an afternoon eating these wonderful buns. The mushroom bao (containing four types of mushroom fried in truffle oil) are our absolute favourites and have to be tried to be believed. Pair two bao with parmesan fries and a white wine for a winning lunch in a modern environment.
1 Noksapyeong-daero 40na-gil, Itaewon 1(il)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Where to Stay
Hamilton Hotel – A great location, right next to the station. Stay for the rooftop pool and sauna.
Itaewon Inn – Near to the station, spacious rooms, and with a rooftop that offers a great view.
