Local Bookstores Missed Out on Han Kang's Bestseller Too: "We Need to Review the Supply Chain First"

Minister Choi Huieong Holds On-Site Meeting with Local Bookstores in Miryang
Calls for Improved Bestseller Supply and School Purchasing Practices

After author Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in Literature, even as her books sold nationwide, local bookstores did not receive their stock on time. While major bookstores had piles of books displayed, customers at neighborhood bookstores would ask, "Why isn't the book available here?" The comments made by local bookstore owners in front of the minister were not simply complaints about sluggish sales. Instead, they were a request to change the current reality, where local bookstores are pushed to the back of the supply chain even when demand for books surges.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hee-young held an on-site meeting on the 14th at Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch in Miryang, Gyeongnam to discuss revitalizing local bookstores and listened to the difficulties faced by local bookstore owners. Attendees included representatives from local bookstores in Miryang such as Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch, Cheonghak Bookstore Milgo Branch, Dong-A Bookstore, Miribeol Bookstore, and Donghaeng Seorim. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

On May 14, Choi Hwee-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, held an on-site meeting at Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch in Miryang, Gyeongnam, to discuss ways to revitalize local bookstores and listened to the difficulties faced by bookstore owners. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch, Cheonghak Bookstore Milgo Branch, Dong-A Bookstore, Miribeol Bookstore, Donghaeng Seorim, and other local bookstores in Miryang.

Before the meeting, a bookstore music concert was held at the Cheonghak Bookstore book cafe. Pianist Park Sangwook performed Chopin's "Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9-2" and a jazz improvisation reinterpretation of Fazil Say's arrangement of Mozart's "Turkish March." Park Sangwook said, "Culture can be alive and breathing not only in grand concert halls but also in small spaces like local bookstores."

The Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch, where the meeting took place, is a long-standing local bookstore in Miryang that opened in 1961. It is currently run by the second generation and operates as a complex cultural space that combines a general bookstore with a book cafe, hosting reading groups, author invitations, lectures, and performance programs.

The most direct issue raised at the meeting was the supply of bestsellers. Shin Chan-seop, head of the Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch, said, "When a book with surging demand, like those by Han Kang or famous political figures, is released, the books do not arrive at local bookstores. Major bookstores are displaying them not just in five or six tiers, but in ten, yet our store did not receive a single copy for two weeks, and only a few arrived after that." He continued, "Customers who came to buy from the local bookstore said, 'They’re selling it online and it’s on the news, but how can it not be in the bookstore?' It’s a shameful and disheartening situation for us as a bookstore."

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Huieong held an on-site meeting on the 14th at Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch in Miryang, Gyeongnam to listen to the difficulties faced by local bookstore owners for revitalizing regional bookstores. Representatives from Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch, Cheonghak Bookstore Milgo Branch, Dong-A Bookstore, Miribeol Bookstore, and Donghaeng Seorim in the Miryang area attended the meeting. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Issues with the fixed book price system were also raised. Shin pointed out, "The fixed price system for books is effectively a 15% discount guarantee system. When large online bookstores offer a 15% discount, small bookstores are forced to follow." He added, "When we receive books at a 75% supply rate and have to give a 15% discount, there is almost nothing left after covering logistics and labor costs."

The reality that school purchases are moving toward large online bookstores instead of local bookstores was also discussed. Shin Kwan-seop, head of Dong-A Bookstore, said, "While Miryang City Library distributes its orders fairly among local bookstores, the situation is disappointing when it comes to schools. A significant portion of general book purchases, beyond those for school libraries, are being shifted to online vendors." He explained, "It’s simply because it’s convenient for administrative offices to put books in their online shopping cart and pay directly with a card," and emphasized, "I hope that general book purchases by schools can also be redirected to local bookstores."

The flaws in the local bookstore certification system were also pointed out. Lee Mira, head of Cheonghak Bookstore Milgo Branch, said, "The Miryang city ordinance defines local bookstores as those operating physical stores in the region. However, in the process of supplying to schools, I have seen cases where bookstores selected for contracts exist only in name and do not actually operate a store." She stressed, "Local bookstore certification should be done locally, with libraries and the city visiting bookstores directly to verify and certify their actual operation."

The lack of support for the establishment of newly opened independent bookstores was also highlighted. Shin Hyesung, head of Donghaeng Seorim, said, "Although there is an ordinance to promote local bookstores, which led me to expect some support, in reality, there were very few places to receive startup consulting. I hope there will be integrated guidance and support programs available even before the startup stage."

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Huiyoung held an on-site meeting on the 14th at Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch in Miryang, Gyeongnam, to revitalize local bookstores and listened to the difficulties faced by local bookstore owners. Representatives from Miryang's bookstores including Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch, Cheonghak Bookstore Milgo Branch, Dong-a Bookstore, Miribeol Bookstore, and Donghaeng Seorim attended the meeting. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The city of Miryang explained that it has established institutional measures through a local bookstore revitalization ordinance to allow public libraries to prioritize purchases from local bookstores. Miryang City Library operates programs in collaboration with local bookstores, such as the Book Cantata, neighborhood bookstore direct lending services, and the autumn book festival.

Minister Choi said, "Spaces like this should exist everywhere in our daily lives. Reading rates are dropping rapidly, and local bookstores that have served as community gathering places are steadily disappearing." He added, "We are looking into ways to improve the conditions for public and school library procurement. We will review various institutional improvements to create the necessary conditions for local bookstores and neighborhood bookshops to continue to exist."

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