Is Bosu Dong Book Street in Busan Worth Visiting? (History + Travel Tips)
Bosu-dong Book Street in Busan is a maze of alleys lined with secondhand bookstores, located just north of BIFF Square.
You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see towering stacks of books.
Keep walking and you’ll find dozens of shops to browse, from vintage Korean prints to international titles, perfect for book lovers.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting.
The Interesting History of Bosu Dong Book Street
Bosu Dong Book Street was first started in the 1950’s when Busan became a temporary capital of Korea and a place for refugees to stay during the Korean War.
According to the informational sign posts at Bosu Book Street, this book alley in Busan was started by a refugee couple.
Refugees who brought books with them began selling their books at these book alleys.
Many books were also left behind by foreigners during the Korean War.
Do the Bookstores Only Sell Used Books?
You can find both used and new books at Bosu Book Street.
While the majority of books are in Korean, you’ll find some books in English, Japanese, and other languages.
Bosu Dong Book Street Cafes to Try
While there, stop by one of the nearby cafes.
📍 In-Aenbin Cafe
Just outside the statue of a person holding a pile of books near the book alleys is In-Aenbin Cafe.
Grab a tea or coffee while visiting Bosu Dong Book Street, and sit in one of the chairs looking out into the book alley.
📍 브라운핸즈 보수점 (Brown Hands)
브라운핸즈 보수점 or Brown Hands is another cafe located within the Bosu Book Street area.
It’s a chain cafe that sells coffee, tea, ades, juices, and lattes.
The cafe is large and open-spaced with a rustic and antique charm that an old home has.
Note there is another Brown Hands cafe in Busan located in the Dong district. That is a different location.
How to Get to Bosu Dong Book Street
By Train
The closest train station to Bosu Book Street is the Jagalchi station next to BIFF Square, which is quite far if you walk.
I personally walked from BIFF Square, which took around 25 minutes. This was during the summer heat too, so taking a bus is better here.
By Bus
Depending on where you’re coming from, there are plenty of buses that stop near Bosu Dong Book Street and are a 5-10 minute walk away.
Bus 81 stops right in front of Bosu Dong Book Street.
By Taxi
You can also take a taxi to the Bosu Book Street. Uber works in Busan if you don’t have the Kakao Taxi app, or don’t want to hail a taxi.
Should you Visit Bosu Dong Book Street?
Bosu Dong Book Street is a charming and unique site to visit while in Busan.
It’s not the largest place, but if you’re down to walk a bit from BIFF Square or are already in the area, it’s a great addition to a Busan itinerary.
If you love browsing books when you travel, Bosu Dong Book Street is perfect place to stop by.
Book before you visit Busan:
- 🏨 Best discounted hotels — great locations and solid reviews
- 🚍 Schedule an airport pickup so you don’t stress at arrivals
- 🚌 Local-led tours with stops you won’t find alone (top 10)
- 🎟 Busan Tour Pass — perfect for short stays (access to 30+ sites)
🎥 Watch my Busan vlogs for more tips:
