#46: Koryo Bookstore

K-Pop heaven

The shop: Koryo Bookstore

Koreatown, Manhattan: 35 W 32nd Street

Smack dab in the middle of 32nd street, Koryo Bookstore is at the heart of Koreatown. This shop is all about Korean literature and pop culture. There are very few English titles here but tons of Korean literature and Korean translations of world literature. K-pop rules supreme here, with posters, stickers, albums, keychains, apparel, pens, and toys for BTS and other big acts. There’s also a kids section in the back with toys. This spot also shares a storefront with Kosette Beauty Market, the ultimate NYC spot to stock up on Korean style cleansing face masks.

What I got:

Danny

My lack of Korean literacy severely limited my selection here, but one rack in the back houses the K-fiction series— translated short stories with the Korean original text and English translations on alternating pages! I love this approach to presenting translated literature, though I’ve only previously encountered it in Hebrew religious texts. This title by Yun I-Hyeong caught my eye for its sci-fi premise: a future where children are raised by cyborg babysitters.