Books
Finding books in English is easier now than it was even five years ago, but it can still be a challenge. Because this section is likely to become quite lengthy, it has been divided into subsections to make browsing easier.
Book Exchanges
There are several locations around the city that offer book exchanges on your honour. Most of them are located in bars and pubs catering to the foreign community.
Brickhouse Sports Bar – Books are up for exchange at the Brickhouse.
Santa Claus – Santa’s has a couple of shelves located next to the big screen TV at the bar.
Daejeon International Community Center- This book exchange has morphed into a full-fledged library. For a donation of four paper backs or two hardcovers you can get a lending membership. Otherwise books must stay at the DICC. If you donate enough books for multiple memberships you may donate a membership for another person to use.
Public Libraries
The Daejeon International Community Center operates the only known English library in the city (of which Socius is a proud supporter). Lending is available to members, and membership is gained through either donating books to the library or being sponsored by another donor. The library’s catalog and online presence is maintained by Socius, and the physical library is located at the Daejeon International Community Center across from the Daejeon Train Station (pick up a book before your trip!). You can find the center by coming out exit 2 of the Daejeon Station subway stop.
Below is a list of libraries primarily serving the local Korean-speaking community:
Yuseong-Gu
Yuseong Public Library Gajeong-dong #3; 601-6530
Gujeuk Public Library Songgang-dong #157; 601-6500
Seo-gu
Galma Public Library Galma-dong #426-45; 533-4283
Gasuwon Public Library Gasuwon-dong #656-48; 543-0051
Jung-Gu
Hanbat Public Library Munhwa-dong #145-3; 580-4316
This is probably the largest and best-known library in the entire city. Although it’s a bit out of the way for most people it is relatively well-serviced by buses.
Daejeon Lifelong Learning Center Daeheung-dong #418-1; 256-4349
Daejeon Student Education Culture Center Mok-dong #126; 229-1431
This list taken from the Daejeon Tourism page (in Korean) about Culture.
Book Shopping
Introduction
Daejeon seems to have bookstores or rental shops in nearly every neighborhood, but few carry much in the line of English books. Here’s the run-down.
English Booksellers
These two companies cater largely to the Hakwon industry, supplying them with texts and supplementary materials. They also carry a few book particularly of interest to English speakers.
Kim and Johnson
This location has a wide variety of texts and a limited selection of adult novels and literature but a wider selection of kid’s books. They also have some games and other teaching resources available.
Kim and Johnson’s is located on the 5th floor of the building across from the Hyundae Itel in Dunsan. There’s a Paris Baguette on the ground level. Come out exit 7 of the City Hall subway station and you’ll be on the correct side of the street.
English Plus
This shop has a wider variety of literature and a selection of Lonely Planet books and phrasebooks. Like Kim and Johnson’s, their primary market is the ESL business, so teachers will find resources and games available here as well. They have a few magazines in stock at the front counter.
English Plus is located on the 5th floor of the Picasso Building behind Galleria Time World in Dunsan. There is a Dunkin Donuts on the ground floor. There are no subway stops in the immediate vicinity, however a large number of buses service the Time World area.
General Korean Bookstores
Korean bookstores are a great place to pick up books in Korean, but not so much for English unless you’re really interested in TOEIC and TOEFL. As for their English selection, it is usually limited to the recent bestsellers from the New York Times book list, and almost entirely paperback. Also available are touristy books about Korea and textbooks for learning Korean. Look for a section called English, Foreign (books), Foreign Language or any of those in Korean to track down the section, often nothing more than a few meters of shelf space. If you can find an employee they’re usually pretty good to point you in the right direction.
Larger bookstores include those located at any department store, Kyobo and Daehoon downtown, and Gyeryong Books in Eunhaeng-dong (next to McDonald’s).
Online Retailers
The best option at present is What the Book, a shop in Seoul run by a Korean and an American whose website is available in English. Payment can be made via bank transfer if you don’t have a credit card and they offer both new and used titles.
