BAEDARI  SECONDHAND

BOOKSTORE ALLEY

Read a Story of a Used Bookstore

In Dong-du, Incheon-si, there is a village with a unique name, Baedari. In this village there once stood an old used bookstore alley filled with 70 years of history. Baedari Used Book Alley, which has accumulated its own stories, is now becoming a hotspot with a unique vibe.

Baedari Used Book Alley, a Part of Incheon’s History

The alley under the Baedari Railroad Bridge in Dong-gu, Incheon, is known as Used Book Alley. Upon entering the alley, visitors will be greeted by old and weathered two- or three-story buildings. Baedari Used Book Alley has been the livelihood of people throughout Incheon’s history.

After the Korean War, peddlers selling books from carts gathered in Baedari to form a used bookstore alley. The alley thrived in 1970s, with more than 40 stores, but gradually lost steam and at one point had almost folded up and disappeared. However, the alley was not lost thanks to the efforts of local residents, and it’s now designated as Baedari Culture and Art Street.

Culture and Art Street, a Famous Filming Location Where You Can Recharge Emotionally

The scene from Guardian: The Lonely and Great God where a man who has lived for more than a thousand years pretends to be reading a book in order to run into the female protagonist wearing a red scarf was filmed in Hanmi Bookstore. Baedari Used Book Alley is known as a filming location for various TV dramas and movies. For example, Jiphyeonjeon, the oldest used bookstore in Incheon, appeared in Extreme Job as the hideout of a criminal organization. The sign of Abel Bookstore, which has been a fixture of the alley for half a century, also appeared in the movie.

Take your time to walk around the used bookstores, such as Samseong Seorim and Daechang Seorim, that still remain in Baedari Used Book Alley and you will feel the charm of the alley as you travel back in time and immerse yourself in the culture.

Address│18-10 Geumgok-ro, Dong-gu, Incheon

Way to go│12-minute walk from Exit 1 of Dongincheon Station, Seoul Subway Line 1

www.icdonggu.go.kr/tour/course/alley.jsp(Korean only)

NEARBY TOURIST ATTRACTIONS