Gwangju City Urges Local Bookstores to Get Certified

Recruiting Bookstores to Participate Until the 21st
Priority Book Purchasing Benefits for Public Institutions

Local bookstore certification plaque. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on the 15th that it will be accepting applications for the "2025 First Half Local Bookstore Certification" from local bookstores until the 21st.

The "Local Bookstore Certification System" is a program that certifies bookstores as "local bookstores" if they meet certain requirements and have operated in Gwangju for more than six months. The certification requirements are as follows: ▲ The bookstore must have an address and a store in the region and be open to the general public ▲ The bookstore must be registered as a retail book business ▲ The bookstore must not be engaged in other types of business ▲ If the bookstore is engaged in other businesses, more than 50% of its total sales must come from book sales. The certification is valid for two years, after which a re-evaluation is conducted.

Certified local bookstores are given priority when public institutions purchase books, and can also participate in promotional and support programs run by Gwangju City to promote and revitalize local bookstores. The city is actively encouraging public institutions such as libraries and education offices to prioritize contracts with certified local bookstores when purchasing books. In addition, Gwangju City is implementing projects to support local bookstores, such as the "Hope Book Direct Loan Service," which allows residents to borrow desired books from nearby local bookstores.

Bookstores wishing to apply for local bookstore certification can download the application form from the Gwangju City website under Notices and Announcements, complete it, and submit it along with the required documents in person or by registered mail to the Gwangju City Cultural Heritage Resources Division. Email submissions are also accepted. The city will make its final selection of local bookstores in April after an internal review based on document examination and on-site inspections.

Jeon Soonhee, head of the Cultural Heritage Resources Division, said, "We will strive to ensure that local bookstores become key hubs in the reading culture ecosystem."

Meanwhile, the Gwangju City Local Bookstore Certification System has been in place since 2023. Currently, 84 bookstores in the Gwangju area are registered as local bookstores. The city plans to review the re-certification of bookstores selected in 2023 in the second half of this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.