"When author Han Kang won the Nobel Prize, our bookstore didn’t receive a single book for two weeks. Only now are we starting to see some titles come in. Customers were disappointed, saying, 'I came to support the local bookstore, but how can there be no books when they’re all available online?' It was embarrassing."
Shin Chang-seob, the owner of Cheonghak Bookstore, which has been operating in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, for two generations, made these remarks during a meeting aimed at revitalizing local bookstores on May 14.
Shin explained, "When popular authors or politicians publish books, most of the distribution is handled in Seoul, so we often don’t receive them. After experiencing this several times, I’ve even thought it might be better if blockbuster titles didn’t come out at all. It’s disheartening."
During the meeting, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young listened to the concerns of representatives from five local bookstores in Miryang: Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch, Cheonghak Bookstore Milgo Branch, Dongah Bookstore, Miribeol Bookstore, and Donghaeng Seorim.
After hearing Shin’s frustrations, Minister Choi stated, "Books have a public nature. People want to see books everywhere. I will look into whether specific distributors are monopolizing the supply and will work on ensuring a balanced distribution."
Choi noted, "As our country’s reading rate has rapidly declined, the number of local bookstores serving as community hubs is also decreasing. The President has been very interested in this issue since his time as a local government leader and continues to press for improvements." He added, "I will strive to create conditions necessary for the survival of local bookstores through various institutional improvements, including school library supplies."
Representatives from local bookstores expressed a sense of hopelessness, with Lee Chan-hee, owner of Miribeol Bookstore, stating, "Forget about supplies; there are hardly any customers in the store. Since the pandemic shifted retail patterns online, customers have not returned. That’s the biggest problem." He requested, "I hope solutions can be researched and provided."
There were also calls for improvements in school supply processes. Shin Kwan-seob, owner of Dongah Bookstore, pointed out, "Schools buy many books, even if they are not libraries, but a significant portion of those purchases go to online retailers." He criticized the complex purchasing process for local bookstores compared to online options and called for action against local bookstores that lack physical stores but still intercept school orders.
Demands for reform of the fixed book price system were also raised. Shin Chang-seob remarked, "The current fixed book price system effectively caps discounts at 15%. The so-called big three—Kyobo, Aladin, and Yes24—maintain this 15% discount, forcing all bookstores to comply. After maintaining this for over 20 years, we had to reduce it to 10% last year due to financial strain. With a 15% discount, we are left with only 2-3% after accounting for logistics and salaries."
In response to concerns about school supplies, Minister Choi said, "I will discuss this with the Ministry of Education," and regarding the fixed book price system, he stated, "I will look into how we can improve it."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture plans to gather opinions on policy support to revitalize local bookstores and incorporate them into next year’s budget. The ministry aims to ensure the sustainability of local bookstores, allowing residents and tourists to visit, read, communicate, and enjoy diverse experiences through books.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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