Yeoncheon Book Cafe & Bookstore Seoda / Uzip Dec 2025

A couple who settled in Yeoncheon in search of the quiet of the countryside. They loved the place so they built a house, and they loved books so they opened a neighborhood bookstore-cafe. We spoke with the couple who tend this space that becomes a comma in everyday life. Settling in Yeoncheon with no prior ties The couple, who once lived in an apartment in Incheon, moved to Yeoncheon eight years ago seeking the calm of rural life, and built their house here five years ago. Because they had always loved and read a great deal of books, they naturally became booksellers. Placing life's first value on something other than money, they decided that if they could be happy earning and spending less, running a bookstore was worth a try. Today they run the bookstore and cafe "Seo;da" on the first floor and live on the second. A new station arrived within a five-minute walk sooner than expected, letting them enjoy rural ease and urban convenience at once. The meaning of "Seo;da" The name uses the characters for "writing" (書) and "tea" (茶) — a space of words and tea. It also carries the meaning of "let's build it together" and "let's pause." Born from a wish to coexist with the local community, the name expresses the hope that here, at least, we might stop for a moment rather than be swept along by busy days. A space of rest and recovery The couple hope this becomes a place of "rest" and "recovery." Unless seating is short, they keep the parking lot open even for those not using the store, and offer extra tea to guests who linger over a book. Cafe visitors are free to pull any book from the shelves without buying it. They hope regulars see the place not as a mere shop but as somewhere to pause during the day. Book talks that draw authors This year Seo;da hosted seven book talks, welcoming authors across poetry, fiction, and essays. There was no special trick to inviting well-known writers to a small rural bookstore — heartfelt, letter-like emails won them over. The talks are filmed and carefully edited onto the couple's own YouTube channel; though views are modest, they tend to it with care, believing the record lasts forever. Advice for prospective builders Rather than the one-dimensional goal of a pretty, expensive building, the couple urge focusing on the detail of what goes inside — software over hardware, "what we will do here." For a shop on the outskirts, the relationship with each individual guest matters immensely. Running a bookstore and cafe together, they also sell bakery items, learning directly from a renowned teacher so that not a single loaf is sold carelessly. Goals for 2026 In the new year they hope to continue activities for the local community. They joined the Seoul International Book Fair in partnership with a publisher and began book talks this year. Next year they are preparing projects that give back to society, planning free book talks that bring together local authors and local youth. Words by Oh Su-hyun · Photos by Byun Jong-seok Bookstore & Cafe Seoda @book_n_cafe__seoda