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Manila Bulletin devider World devider Kyobo: More than just a bookstore in Korea

Kyobo: More than just a bookstore in Korea

Published Apr 9, 2026 12:42 pm  |  Updated Apr 10, 2026 10:22 am
A portrait of celebrated Korean writer Han Kang, winner of the 024 Nobel Prize in Literature, in Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
A portrait of celebrated Korean writer Han Kang, winner of the 024 Nobel Prize in Literature, in Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)

SEOUL, South Korea - Kyobo Book Centre, the largest bookstore in South Korea, is more than that. 

In popular culture, Kyobo’s Gwanghwamun branch, the first and main branch, was a filming location for the hit 2007 K-drama “Coffee Prince” that starred Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun-hye. 

Participants of the recent World Journalists Conference (WJC) 2026 in South Korea visited the Kyobo Gwanghwamun branch for an immersion. 

A total of 41 journalists from 30 countries, including the Manila Bulletin from the Philippines, participated in the conference, which brought them to various places in South Korea and allowed them to experience Korean culture, technology, and local governance. 

Kyobo Book Centre is not just a bookstore but a cultural space. Among K-pop fans, Kyobo’s Hottracks section is a popular destination for the purchase of K-pop albums. Hottracks offers stationery, gifts, and records. 

It has 11 million book titles, rivaling the National Library of Korea. Besides its 34 physical branches, Kyobo has an online platform where people can order books and other things. 

Kyobo attracts about 260,000 visitors daily throughout its 34 offline stores while it has 9.35 million monthly active users online, comparable to the population of Seoul. 

Its Kyobo Book Club has 13.33 million members, translating to one in every five Koreans. The book club is a loyalty program that offers a point-earning system, invitations to cultural events and updates on new releases.  

A portrait of Korean writer Han Kang in Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
A portrait of Korean writer Han Kang in Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists and Journalists Association of Korea President Park Jong-hyun visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
Foreign journalists and Journalists Association of Korea President Park Jong-hyun visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
A briefing by Kyobo staff during the visit of foreign journalists at the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
A briefing by Kyobo staff during the visit of foreign journalists at the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)

In 2023, Kyobo Book Centre reported revenues of 901.37 billion won (about $610 million). 

During the visit of the WJC participants, Kyobo personnel showcased the bookstore’s different sections. 

Visitors to the Gwanghwamun branch are greeted by a light art installation called “Sitting by the Flower, Gazing at the Moon” at the entrance. 

The Munbojang Premium Stationery Shop has products from Korea and other countries while The Scent of Page presents the signature fragrance of the bookstore, available in room sprays, diffusers, air fresheners, and scented candles. 

The Kyobo Art Space has artworks, while the Hanyang Boutique carries Korean products and souvenirs. Hanyang is the former name of Seoul. 

Bookstores, including Kyobo, experienced a surge in visitors and orders when Korean writer Han Kang won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature. 

Her portrait hangs in Kyobo’s The Nobel Laureates Exhibition, showcasing the winners of the award. 

The WJC was organized by the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) headed by its president, Park Jong-hyun, with the support of Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Korea Press Foundation.

The Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
The Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
A poster of Korean writer Han Kang in Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
A poster of Korean writer Han Kang in Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (Jonathan Hicap)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)
Foreign journalists visiting the Kyobo Book Centre main branch in Gwanghwamun area in Seoul (JAK)

Related Tags

World Journalists Conference 2026 South Korea Kyobo Book Centre Seoul
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