Coastal coffee capital of Korea mixes beachside reading with 'text hip' trend

Korea's tourism authorities are merging two of the country's most beloved cultural pastimes for a beachside literary escape this week. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) are organizing the "Sea 24 Hours: Book Trip," a five-day outdoor reading event at Anmok Beach in Gangneung, which runs through Sunday.

This event taps into the popular "text hip" trend among young Koreans, who see reading physical books as a trendy and fashionable lifestyle choice rather than a mere pastime. It is paired with the annual Gangneung Coffee Festival, which typically attracts around 300,000 visitors to the coastal city, renowned as Korea's specialty coffee capital.

The festival is situated against a backdrop of pine trees lining the sandy shoreline, creating an inviting atmosphere for travelers aiming to unwind and savor the region's offerings. The book lounge, accessible daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., displays approximately 200 books organized into four thematic categories: food, photography, and others.