Gyeonggi Province is receiving applications from small local bookstores for the from July 20 to 31.

The Gyeonggi Small Bookstore Fair, launched last year under the slogan “Everything is in the bookstore,” is a project to revitalize small neighborhood bookstores that are struggling in the competition with large franchises and online bookstores.

The project aims to help small bookstores serve as a cultural space that local residents can easily visit on their way home from work, or in the evening and at night, through cultural events such as book concerts and poetry readings with famous writers.

The participants of last year’s fair include Book By Book in Seongnam City, Mr. Vertigo in Goyang City and 5km Bookstore in Bucheon City; approximately 1,000 residents visited the fair. Renowned writers including Park Jun, Lee Byung-ryul, Eun Hee-kyung, Kim Yeon-su and Eun Yu also participated in the fair, accompanied by various cultural events including drama readings, animal drawing shows, and violin performances.

This year’s fair will be held from October 13 to 21, providing special cultural events at a total of 20 bookstores.

The bookstores that wish to participate in the fair can apply online via the Gyeonggi Content Agency website.
Participating bookstores can hold cultural events with the support of Gyeonggi Province and be provided with promotional materials and souvenirs. They are also invited to workshops for bookstore owners to get a variety of information

Gyeonggi Province has carried out the Gyeonggi Book Ecosystem Revitalization Project with the Gyeonggi Content Agency since 2017 to support local bookstores. The project has operated the following programs: Cheer Up! Small Bookstores in Gyeonggi Province, a program to support the remodeling and cultural activities of neighborhood bookstores; Gyeonggi Bookstore School, a program to strengthen the capacity of bookstore owners and those wishing to open a bookstore; support for excellent publications and the selection of Gyeonggi Province’s Book of the Year to help small- and medium-sized publishing companies; and Hidden Writers in Gyeonggi Province, a literary contest for the general public.

For more information on participation in the fair, please visit the Gyeonggi Content Agency website.