How One Korean Bookstore Bridges Generations, One Free Book at a Time

Kid Reporter Josephine Lee at Bookstore Barataria in Chuncheon, South Korea.

On a narrow street in Chuncheon in South Korea, a three-story white building stands out against the weathered neighborhood. Light shines through its large windows, illuminating rows of bookshelves that eagerly invite the viewer to come and read. Inside Bookstore Barataria, the warm aroma of roasted coffee beans fills the space between the rows of books. 

Origin of the name “Barataria” 

Mr. and Mrs. Jang, the owners of Bookstore Barataria, once said in an interview with Hankyoreh, a Korean news outlet, that they “dreamt of running the world’s most romantic bookstore built in Chuncheon, eventually opting for early retirement and deciding to sell books.” 

Barataria is the name of a fictional island in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervante where a character is asked to be the ruler of the fake island. The character does not know it’s a trick, so he takes his job seriously and creates fair laws which improve the lives of those around him. The bookstore chose this name to signify that their store can also be a story-like, idyllic place. 

Josephine standing in front of Bookstore Barataria’s modern white building.

Bookstore Barataria’s unique giveback program 

In addition to being a place where people can buy books, the owners wanted to do something different with their store. They have a program called “Prepaid Books to Send to the Future: Mimi Books” program. In South Korea, studying and college entrance exams take a lot of reading time away from students. The owners wanted to find a way to encourage young people to pick out books for fun. 

Patrons of the bookstore are able to select and pay for a book that can be gifted to a young person with the option to include a note. Students aged 14-19 visiting the bookstore can choose the book they want without worrying about paying for it. Since its opening, there have been more than 550 books donated with nearly 400 of those books finding a new home with a young student. 

Josephine admiring a wide collection of books that were readable inside the bookstore. There were countless international books for readers to read.

Through the Prepaid Books to Send to the Future program, the owners have created a bridge between generations, allowing adults to plant seeds of wonder and discovery for young minds. 

Just like in Don Quixote, Bookstore Barataria shows how small acts can leave a lasting impact. Tucked away on a quiet street in Chuncheon, the owners built their own Barataria — not a pretend kingdom, but a real sanctuary where dreams, wisdom, and stories come to life.