70 Local Bookstores Across Korea to Host 'Midnight Bookstore' Every Wednesday Night

Ministry Selects Bookstores for First Half of the Year
345 Programs Including Book Talks and Reading Sessions Until June 24

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is operating the 'Culture Wednesday × Midnight Bookstore' project at 70 local bookstores nationwide.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism operates the 'Culture Wednesday × Midnight Bookstore' project at 70 local bookstores nationwide. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

On April 29, the Ministry announced that, together with the Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency and the Korean Federation of Bookstore Associations, it had selected 70 local bookstores to participate in the first half of 2026 for the 'Culture Wednesday × Midnight Bookstore' project and began operations on April 22.

The 'Culture Wednesday × Midnight Bookstore' project is designed for adults, such as office workers who have difficulty participating in cultural activities during the day. The program extends bookstore operating hours every Wednesday and offers reading culture programs such as book talks, reading sessions, and writing workshops.

The bookstores selected for the first half of this year include 15 in Seoul, 20 in Gyeonggi and Incheon, 2 in Gangwon, 6 in Chungcheong, 9 in Jeolla, 15 in Gyeongsang, and 3 in Jeju, for a total of 70 locations. Each selected bookstore will receive up to 2.8 million won in support, including operational expenses for cultural activities and compensation for bookstore owners.

The selected bookstores will run their respective programs every Wednesday until June 24. There are 345 programs in total. In Donghae, Gangwon, 'Janjanhage' will host a book talk titled 'How Does Travel Become Poetry?' with poet Park Jun. In Guri, Gyeonggi, 'Chunga Books' will offer the 'Reading and Writing Park Wansuh' program as well as a book talk with author Ho Won-sook.

'Jungle Pimpy,' an animal-themed bookstore in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, will hold programs focused on animal welfare. In Busan, 'Creta' will feature a 'Moonlight Reading Session' with writers Oh Eun, Moon Ji-hyuk, Lim Seong-yong, and Han Yeo-jin. In Wanju, Jeonbuk, 'Flicker' will present events such as 'A Night of Writing with the Author: Emotional Reset.'

The Ministry plans to continue the Midnight Bookstore project in the second half of the year and will hold an additional call for participating bookstores in July.

Kim Jaehyun, Director General for Culture and Media Industry at the Ministry, stated, "'Midnight Bookstore' was created so that local residents with busy daily schedules can stop by neighborhood bookstores in the evening to recharge with a cultural experience through books," adding, "We will support local bookstores so that community members can enjoy and connect through a shared book culture."

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