The inconvenient convenience store

A bestseller in South Korea, The Inconvenient Convenience Store , by Kim Ho-yeon, is a novel about second chances and how the solution to seemingly insoluble problems may be closer than you think.

Dok-go lives in Seoul Station and spends his days staring at the same convenience store. He has no memories of his past, but he knows he'd give anything for a shot of soju. When he finds a small bag with documents and a wallet, he has no idea his life is about to change.

Mrs. Yeom, a retired history teacher, lost her purse at the station. But thank the good Lord who always protects her, as soon as she realized her belongings were missing, she received a call from a pay phone informing her that they had been found. She was so grateful that she decided to take Dok-go to her convenience store to feed him. Seeing the joy on his face, she told him he could stop by every day and get a packed lunch.

By a twist of fate, Dok-go ends up saving the store from a robbery. And even though the employees don't trust him much, Mrs. Yeom offers the bear-like man the night shift. Little by little, Dok-go surprises everyone and captivates those around him.

The problem is, Mrs. Yeom's worthless son has other plans for the place. He wants to sell the shop, and in the meantime, he hires a detective to find out what Dok-go has been trying so hard to forget.

“Dok-go's realistic and encouraging relationship with the shop's customers, whose problems and aspirations are so beautifully resolved as the pages turn, wins everyone's hearts” – The Korea Times

“A moving story about solidarity and healing” – Yes24