The 2024 Gwangalli Beach Book Fair, hosted by Suyeong-gu district and organized by the Busan Publishing Culture Industry Association, will take place on Gwangalli Beach from September 7th to 8th.

This weekend, the beach will transform into a vibrant hub for the “Text Hip” movement, a term that captures the growing trend of reading among the younger generation.

Combining “text” (print) and “hip” (cool), this phrase has become a popular hashtag on social media, making Gwangalli Beach the perfect backdrop for this literary event.

Building on the success of last year’s 7th Korea Regional Book Fair, which marked the first-ever beach book fair in Korea, Suyeong-gu has decided to establish an annual book fair starting this year.

The Gwangalli Beach Book Fair is designed as a unique festival to foster a distinct publishing and reading culture in Busan. It brings together various members of the publishing ecosystem — publishers, bookstores, book clubs, goods producers, writers — and the readers of Busan, creating a community of book enthusiasts.

The theme for this year’s event is “Bookist of the Beach.” A “Bookist” refers to anyone who creates, enjoys, or shares books, inviting everyone from tourists to dedicated book lovers to join in the celebration.

The fair introduces five characters representing different ways people enjoy books while embracing the seaside charm of Gwangalli.

The event features a variety of activities, including a book market, a book playground, and interactive experiences.

The book market will host 43 teams, including 25 publishers such as Sanjini, Rye Field, Doseo Publishing Outlook, and Bi On Hu; 8 bookstores like Munwoo Dang and Creta; the National Assembly Busan Library; and a reading group community.

These participants will offer books, related goods, and promotional activities for book-related communities.

At the Book Playground, 100 books recommended by participating publishers and bookstores will be showcased in a section titled “Books Recommended by the Beach Bookist.”

Over the two-day event, 11 book talks will be held, featuring notable works such as How to Remember Busan by Kim Yo-achim, Country Curator Drifting by Shin Yong-cheol, and The Story of a 90-Year-Old Mother Written by a 60-Year-Old Young Daughter by Jeong Gyeong-suk.

Additional activities include a large picture book reading by the Barefoot Friends Library, a concert by local singer Lee Nae on the 7th, and a performance by bard Hwang Gyeong-min on the 8th.

The fair will also offer a range of experiential events, with around 10 teams leading activities such as “Book Prescription for You,” where book club members provide personalized book recommendations based on individual concerns and tastes.

Other activities include making eco-friendly book clips, ocean-themed bookmarks, and capturing the essence of a book through its scent.

Fleet Chinhae

USAG Daegu