A paid reading group for young people and others is held once a week in Seoul's Hongdae district, creating a growing space for participants to discuss their thoughts on the theme of "the one book that shaped their lives." The 13 participants range from their late 20s to early 40s, and have discussed works including Dazai Osamu (太宰治)'s No Longer Human and Endo Shusaku (遠藤周作)'s Deep River.
A paid reading group was being held on an evening in mid-October in a room in a multi-tenant building in Seoul's Hongdae (Hongdae) district. It is organized by "Dialogue Shop," where participants meet once a week to discuss their thoughts on novels from Japan and overseas. This session's theme was each person's "one book that shaped their life." As the 13 participants gathered around a table and discussed their reading experiences, applause and murmurs of agreement arose, with each person's words bringing energy to the gathering.
A feeling that "reading is cool" is spreading, and a culture of reading is taking root among young people, particularly those in their 20s and 30s. Participants write their thoughts in the margins of their favorite books, pass them around among friends, and hold reading groups along the Han River. These activities provide opportunities to become familiar with books through reading groups and events, contributing to the expansion of reading habits among young people.
The article, an Asahi Shimbun report written in Japanese, introduces the background to Seoul's reading boom among young people and text hip. It focuses on the operation of the reading group, the thoughts shared by participants, and the spread of reading culture, portraying young people who view reading as a "cool" activity.
The 13 reading group participants range from their late 20s to early 40s and meet once a week to discuss novels from Japan and overseas. The theme of this session was "the one book that shaped their lives," with Dazai Osamu (太宰治)'s No Longer Human and Endo Shusaku (遠藤周作)'s Deep River among the works mentioned. The article also introduces library-like spaces in commercial facilities and event-oriented venues, as well as programs combining music and reading.