That said, what counts as a good book? For the regular person, it’s perhaps a book they enjoyed. But as a bookseller, Yeongju needed to think beyond that.

She tried coming up with a definition.

• Books about life. Not something generic, but a deep and raw dive into life.

Recalling Mincheol’s mother’s red-rimmed eyes, she tried to elaborate further.

• Books by authors who understand life. Those who write about family, mother and child, about themselves, about the human condition. When authors delve deep into their understanding of life to touch the hearts of readers, helping them to navigate life, isn’t that what a good book should be?

— Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum, Shanna Tan