[Insta Walk] Chaegikda - A Place Comforting 'Adolescent Adults' with a Book and a Drink

A Bookstore Collaborated with a Pub Space
Popular Mascot Bear Doll 'Ikkomi'
"Drinking Makes Emotions More Intense, Helping You Immerse in Books"
Recommending Drinks That Match Customers' Book Choices

Adolescence: Another Name for Middle Age and Menopause
A Space to Overcome Everyday Worries

A bookshelf displaying books and the 'Ikkomi' bear mascot of 'Chaegikda' viewed from the center of the store. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] "There was a time when I wished I would disappear from this world. The whole world was so dark, and I cried every night. Would I feel better if I just disappeared? The gaze of everyone looking at me was so terrifying..."

Singer Bolbbalgan4 murmurs these words in the song "To My Youth." The main vocalist, Ahn Ji-young, who wrote this song, has introduced it as a reflection of her own adolescence. On the stage of the music festival "Youth Arena 2017," she said, "I hope this song becomes a comfort and hope not only for those experiencing adolescence by age but for everyone feeling growing pains."

Perhaps that is why the comments on the YouTube video of this song look like diaries where people confess their wounds. "From the first line to the last, every word feels like my story, and it chokes me up." "I am suffering from depression and panic disorder and have become a job seeker. I don’t know what I’m good at, and it’s hard, but my parents’ high expectations make it even harder." "I’m proud of myself for surviving back then and now becoming a mother with gray hair." Regardless of age or gender, people clearly show that everyone carries their own burdens.

What if there were a space where, during such difficult times, one could quietly look into their depths and regulate their breathing? The independent bookstore "Chaeg Ikda" was established near a university to comfort those going through hard times. CEO Jeon Yoo-gyeom, who opened Chaeg Ikda, explained, "I thought about who might be struggling during the process of looking inward. Although it’s not strictly defined by age, I thought people in their 20s and 30s might be dealing with these concerns a lot." When you push through the bustling crowd on the 'Youth Street' near Hongik University in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and enter the alley where Chaeg Ikda is located, you can feel a quietness and tranquility quite different from the nearby atmosphere. This is why Chaeg Ikda catches the eyes of Instagrammers searching for 'special places only I know.'

Books are displayed on the table located against the wall. A memo with a one-line review by CEO Jeon Yugyeom is attached to the book covers. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

Jeon said that the worries of her childhood, when she wondered "Why am I like this?" shaped who she is today. "Since I was young, I’ve had a constant thirst to understand myself." This curiosity led the business student Jeon to double major in psychology and eventually to open Chaeg Ikda in January. "Honestly, I still haven’t found the answer. But I think I’ve come to accept not 'Why am I like this?' but 'I am originally like this.' While pondering 'How do I live as this self?' I ended up opening a bookstore."

Jeon describes Chaeg Ikda as "a space to face oneself." "I think the unchanging human desire is loneliness. We want to lean on someone, yet also want to find ourselves, not others." Therefore, the interior design focuses on creating warmth. Jeon’s goal was to make a space where people can stay long without discomfort and where their hearts can be warmed. "Isn’t the charm of an independent bookstore that it smells of people, reflects the unique atmosphere of the neighborhood, and feels like a living room?" Upon entering, the orange lighting and the store’s mascot teddy bear 'Ikkomi' greet visitors first. The seat in front of Ikkomi, who sits at the central bar table, is the most popular spot coveted by all guests. The name Ikkomi was given by a regular customer who fancied themselves a namer.

Chaeg Ikda goes beyond the function of a typical bookstore by also operating as a book pub. Usually, reading pairs well with coffee or tea in cafes, but considering that many world-renowned authors loved alcohol, this combination doesn’t seem so unusual. Ernest Hemingway, who wrote "The Old Man and the Sea," enjoyed mojitos, and Fyodor Dostoevsky, famous for "The Brothers Karamazov," started every morning with a shot of vodka. There is even a story of a publisher sending a box of fine wine to Goethe, who refused manuscript requests, finally securing his contribution. Jeon hinted, "Drinking makes you more in tune with your emotions and helps you immerse yourself more deeply in the book’s content." They also recommend drinks that pair well with the books customers choose.

If you encounter a good sentence that sparks your creative desire, you can even try writing on the spot. If you’ve always wanted to write but hesitated out of fear, you might borrow a little courage from the buzz of alcohol. Jeon organizes weekly writing gatherings at Chaeg Ikda by gathering people through interest-based community apps. There is no professional writing instructor, but participants share their writings and give each other feedback. Instead of scoring or finding faults, the group discovers good points with positive language. Jeon, who says "people spend time facing themselves through writing," plans to hold reading clubs soon.

Guests left visit reviews, book impressions, and doodles in the guestbook 'Naljeoki' set up at 'Chaegikda'. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

If writing still feels burdensome, you can visit the "Naljeogi." Naljeogi is a pure Korean word meaning "diary," and it is a guestbook where visitors to Chaeg Ikda leave their impressions of the day. There is no need to write grand sentences or follow rules. Naljeogi gladly accepts everything from worries too embarrassing to share with acquaintances to scribbles and doodles. You can also leave comments on others’ worries to show empathy. Jeon explained the reason for creating Naljeogi: "Sometimes we suffer over worries that we won’t even remember a year later. At that time, I felt these emotions, but as time passes, new worries come." She added, "I wanted to leave the current self as is for when guests return." As she said, visitors copied impressive book quotes into Naljeogi, drew faces of companions, and left wishes like "I want to get married" and "I want to live kindly."

On the other hand, some confess in Naljeogi that they "feel pathetic and can hardly endure it" or "feel lonely." Seeing that many people’s hearts still flutter even well past their teenage years, adolescence might be a lifelong companion under different names like midlife crisis or menopause. The reason Jeon chose the word "Ikda" (meaning "to ripen") in the bookstore’s name is also related to this. "Ripening doesn’t just mean time passing; it means time accumulating to produce a better fragrance and deeper flavor. Isn’t it the same for alcohol, books, and people?" When moments come when you want to deny yourself, how about pouring out your worries over a book and a drink and comforting yourself? Jeon believes this is also part of the process of ripening.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.