A Dual Experience: Supporting Local Bookstores While Reading
[Reporter: Yeseul Jo]
Is reading simply about consuming a book?
While you can quickly purchase the desired book from large bookstores or online shops, there's joy in discovering new books by exploring independent bookstores in your neighborhood, guided by the tastes and perspectives of the shop owners.
This time, I visited 'Summer Bookshop,' an independent bookstore located in Gwanggyo, Suwon, utilizing the 'Reading Points with Cheon-gwon' program to buy books.
Summer Bookshop in Gwanggyo, Suwon
Amid the everyday scenery of Gwanggyo, Summer Bookshop offers a warm and cozy atmosphere. Beyond selling books, it serves as a space where various books and cultural programs foster local reading culture.
Inside Summer Bookshop, where you can find a variety of books
Upon entering the bookstore, a different scene unfolds compared to large bookstores. As you leisurely browse the books on the shelves and follow the recommended phrases, you may find yourself pausing before books you would typically overlook. Perhaps the charm of independent bookstores lies in these 'serendipitous encounters with books.'
Using Reading Points with Cheon-gwon to purchase books
During this visit, I selected a total of four books, ranging from those I was interested in to ones I wouldn't usually choose, by utilizing the 'Reading Points with Cheon-gwon.' This method allowed me to explore books I would typically hesitate to try, making the purchasing process a delightful experience of discovering new reads.
The first book I read from my selections at Summer Bookshop was the '17th Young Writer Award Anthology' neighborhood bookstore edition. It felt particularly special as I had personally chosen it while browsing the independent bookstore's shelves, and the edition's cover, designed for local bookstores, naturally caught my eye.
Reading the works of various young authors in one volume offered a fresh perspective on familiar daily life and relationships. The book I discovered through the 'Reading Points with Cheon-gwon' led to the joy of encountering new authors and stories.
Independent bookstores are spaces where people meet and share stories through books, contributing to the local reading culture. In this sense, the experience of purchasing books from local bookstores using the 'Reading Points with Cheon-gwon' can be seen as a way to merge the joy of reading with local culture.
Make sure to use your accumulated points!
As of July 19, 2026, the application for 'Reading Points with Cheon-gwon' has closed due to exceeding the project budget. If you have already accumulated points, they can be used until December 20, 2026, at 23:59. Any points not used within this period will expire.
If you have points saved up, why not purchase a book you've always wanted to read or visit a nearby local bookstore to discover something new? Using your points for a book purchase can not only sustain your reading habit but also support local bookstores and the community's reading culture.
A small change starting with one book
This visit to Summer Bookshop made me realize that there are various ways to encounter books, just as there are ways to read them. I hope you experience the joy of discovering new thoughts and stories through a book encountered via 'Reading Points with Cheon-gwon.' The moments when our daily reading intersects with local culture may be closer than we think.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeonggi_gov/224360806166
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