Dongdaemun Secondhand Book Street is a small market for book hunters looking for treasures such as rare books, limited editions, comics, and magazines. This small and easy to miss street lined with piles of books is located just across from the Cheonggyecheon Stream.
The Secondhand Book Street dates back to the 1960s. Since then, it has grown slowly. The smell of old books and ink is impressive as you walk past small and narrow shops full of books from floor to ceiling.
When the shops run out of room, they will stack books in piles right on the sidewalks out front.
You could spend hours sorting through the thousands of used and new books, magazines, and comics from Korea and from all over the world. Many of the books found here are in Korean but if you search around you can find foreign books that are hard to find anywhere else and some which are rare.
Prices for books vary based on age, condition, and how rare it is. Expect to pay at least 30% less here than at other book stores in Seoul.
The Secondhand Book Street is a jewel of a market and is a great destination for those who love books and want to find those limited editions and rare books that can’t be found anyone else.
Last Updated on Aug 21, 2020