There are many webtoons and comics in Korea that are considered masterpieces. They are casual and easy to read, but they leave you with a lesson or an afterthought. There are days when you just want to immerse yourself in these masterpieces of webtoons and comics for reflection and inspiration. On such days, we recommend going to ¡°Graphic,¡± a bookstore specializing in graphic novels in the Itaewon-dong of Seoul. Graphic novels are works that are halfway between comics and novels, and deal with more philosophical themes than regular comics.

When you open the door to Graphic, you¡¯ll find an inspiring space filled with works categorized as graphic novels. In addition to Korean webtoons, there are about 4,000 titles, including comics and art books from other countries, so if you¡¯re looking to discover Korean works, don¡¯t be afraid to ask a Graphic member for help. Just tell them what you¡¯re looking for, such as ¡°I¡¯m looking for something based on a webtoon,¡± or ¡°I¡¯m looking for a Korean masterpiece,¡± and they¡¯ll be happy to help.

You can ask Graphic members for recommendations, but why not rely on your senses to find something that speaks to you? The bookshelves in every corner of Graphic are indexed by genre, so pick a genre or topic that sounds interesting and explore the shelves. You¡¯ll find popular webtoons like ¡°A Killer Paradox¡± and ¡°Solo Leveling,¡± which have been turned into movies, as well as more serious works like ¡°Awl,¡± which takes a realistic look at the labor market, and ¡°Moms,¡± which is a raw and honest look at the lives of middle-aged women. You¡¯ll also find unique titles such as ¡°Texas Holdem,¡± about a protagonist who becomes a professional gambler to pay for his mother¡¯s medical bills, and ¡°Pain-Bumpkin,¡± about a group of criminals who steal treasure from the sea for a living.

As you browse Graphic, you¡¯ll not be hit by any worries that you¡¯ll stumble across something you dislike. Every book in the store has been curated by Graphic members and has been read by them at least once. If they don¡¯t enjoy it, they¡¯ll remove it from the shelf, so you should be willing to consider the books on your shelf as ¡°worth reading¡± and open them up. It¡¯s great to browse and enjoy webtoons from the comfort of your own home, but when you find a masterpiece at Graphic, you¡¯ll be glad you came.

Only adults are allowed in Graphic, which is why it¡¯s called an adult¡¯s paradise. It¡¯s not just because it¡¯s full of books; for KRW 15,000 (USD 11.5), you can browse all the books in Graphic for an unlimited amount of time from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., except on Mondays.

Graphic has other things that make it feel like a paradise. For starters, there¡¯s the ¡°right light for reading.¡± Graphic is a three-story building that features windows near the ceiling so that shelves on each floor can get enough outside light. The sunlight floods in and illuminates the entire store, creating the right atmosphere to get lost in the comics. There are no windows near the seats where you can read, which is even better because you can immerse yourself in the book without distractions due to the light.

Graphic features good music for reading. The playlist is curated by the staff and varies in genre from pop, jazz and rock, but the overall melodies fit the mood of the store. The music ranges from those decades-old to more recent releases, so if you¡¯re looking for a change of pace from reading, this is a great place to start. You might just find something you like. If you want to listen to music at a slightly better quality and at a higher volume while reading, head to the third floor―it has a large professional sound system.

Graphic is a multicultural space that occasionally hosts cultural events. At an event showcasing the tattoo works of the group Opium, a DJ mixes tracks. ¨Ï Graphic

There are also ¡°different seating options¡± in Graphic. The store recognizes that different people have different postures and preferences when reading, so they¡¯ve categorized nine different reading positions to determine the height and shape of the furniture. If you prefer a darker atmosphere and want to be separated from others, choose a seat at the bottom of the stairs. If you like to read upright, choose a seat that looks like a library desk on the second floor. If you want to make yourself at home, you can take a seat on the large sofas on the second floor and in the corners. Finally, if you don¡¯t want to lie down completely but want to recline, you can sit on the wooden chairs on the first floor. There¡¯s a wide variety of seating, including high bar stools like you¡¯d find at a cocktail bar and low stools that you can sit on anywhere, so pick a magnet that suits your tastes. Just be prepared to spend the day in comfort and not realize it.

Finally, there are plenty of snacks in Graphic. You can enjoy unlimited drinks at the lounge on the third floor. From sodas to tea and coffee, just choose what you want. You can also order and receive non-alcoholic cocktails, beer, highballs, wine and whiskey through your smartphone from the comfort of your seat. Graphic offers the kind of happiness only reserved for adults, where you can soak up the atmosphere and the good quality alcohol and get lost in the stories.

Graphic sells various types of high-quality alcoholic drinks so visitors can drink according to their taste.

If a trip to Korea sadly isn¡¯t in the cards anytime soon, you may want to check out the webtoon platform that Graphic intends to launch as early as this June. The platform, which is designed for amateur writers, is open for anyone to post their work for anyone to read. Graphic will soon launch a contest to recruit amateur artists. This carefully curated platform is sure to feature top-notch webtoons, including a new series that will leave a mark on the Korean webtoon scene. Now, it¡¯s time to revitalize your life with Graphic. A paradise of masterpieces just for you awaits.