Seoul bookstore holds spring warehouse sale with K-Lit translation panel

dbBOOKS, a Seoul-based English-language bookstore, will open its twice-yearly WOW Family Sale this weekend alongside a panel discussion on Korean literature in translation and a rooftop book swap event, according to the Korea Times.

The panel, titled "The Art, Science, and Outlook of K-Lit in Translation," brings together authors, translators and publishing professionals to examine the full production chain — from writing and editing to funding and marketing — behind Korean literature reaching English-language readers.

The sale runs Saturday and Sunday at the basement of SK Techno Building, accessible near Exit 5 of Ttukseom Station on Seoul Metro Line 2, according to the Korea Times. The event will offer hundreds of thousands of English book titles across both days.

Katch Hahm, data protection officer at dbBOOKS and moderator of Saturday's panel, said the store designs rooftop events to give shoppers a fuller experience. "To thank our customers for coming to WOW, we like to organize sideline events on the rooftop to make the visit more than just a shopping opportunity," Hahm said, according to the Korea Times.

The panel begins at 4 p.m. Saturday. Hahm said the discussion aims to deepen readers' understanding of what happens before a translated book reaches their hands. "While we all love K-Lit as readers, we could enhance that appreciation by considering the many things that happen, behind scenes, along the production chain, before the book falls into our hands," Hahm said. "The 'art' will explore creative issues like writing, translating and editing, while the 'science' will examine technical aspects such as funding, training and marketing."

Panelists include Park Chan-woo, managing director of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea; authors Lee Suhyeon and Anton Hur, who is also a translator; translator Sean Lin Halbert; Honford Star co-founder Taylor Bradley; and Korea Times reviewer and book content creator Faye Leung. The panel will be followed by a question-and-answer session and book signings, the Korea Times reported.

On Sunday, Cari, host of the BookTube channel "cari can read," will lead a book swap event on the venue rooftop from 4 to 6 p.m. Free parking is available at the venue, and delivery can be arranged for 5,000 won, according to the Korea Times.

dbBOOKS operates English and Korean websites at dbbooks.com and tongbangbooks.com respectively.