Living Oil Mill & Sparrow Bookstore — The Heart of Culture in Waegwan Market

📍 Address: 7-12 Sijang 2-gil, Waegwan-eup, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongbuk 🚶 Distance: 446 meters from Daegyeong Waegwan Station ⏰ Hours: Open daily, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM 📞 Phone: 0507-1375-7982 📸 Instagram: @thing__think 💳 Credit cards accepted

A Cultural Oil Mill with a Purpose

Living Oil Mill (삶기름방앗간) is more than just an oil press — it’s a cultural space built around the stories and values of local lives. Located in the heart of Waegwan Market, this hybrid venue welcomes anyone with a curiosity for community, shared creativity, and local flavor.

Whether you want to host an exhibition, a hobby group, or a small meeting — you’ll find this space ready and open.

📚 Sparrow Bookstore (참새책방)

Housed within the oil mill, Sparrow Bookstore is a cozy independent bookstore that attracts passersby like curious sparrows. The shop carries everything from picture books and indie publications to general titles, and it regularly hosts:

• 📖 Book clubs
• ✍️ Writing workshops
• 💬 Hobby & interest groups

Their ethos? “It’s okay to live like this, or like that.” A place of encouragement and acceptance — a safe space for those who live with books in hand.

Community Highlights from the Blog

🌿 [Trekking Club] “The Path of Letting Go”

🗓 June 29 (Sun) – 8:30 AM 📍 Meeting Point: Sinnamugol Holy Ground 📍 Trail: Hanti Trail Course 2 — The Letting Go Path 📏 Distance: ~9.5km (~4 hours)

Route Overview:

• Start: Sinnamugol Holy Ground – quiet reflection
• Middle: Daetgolji Pond – serene scenery
• End: Changpyeongji – peaceful waterside rest

✨ Why ‘The Letting Go Path’? This trail invites silent trekking, allowing walkers to release mental clutter and reconnect with themselves.

💡 Tips:

• Bring water ahead of time
• Embrace the silent trek 1 hour in

🎬 [Filmmaking Club] “How to Be a Director – .zip”

🗓 July 12 – September 21 🕰️ Every Saturday (10 sessions), 10:00–12:30 📍 Waegwan Market 💰 Fee: 50,000 KRW (includes snacks; non-refundable) 👥 Participants: Min. 5 – Max. 12 🎞 Deadline to apply: July 4 (Friday), midnight

Whether you're a total beginner or curious creator, this hands-on project helps you write, shoot, act in, and edit your own local short film using Waegwan Market as your set.

Perfect for:

• Aspiring creators who’ve never tried
• People looking for a meaningful weekend
• Anyone who wants to capture regional stories through video
• Those craving collaboration and creativity

🪖 [Historical Tour] “The Bridge Tour – Walk the Korean War’s Path”

“A nation that forgets its history has no future.”

Follow the trail of one of Korea’s fiercest battles — the Nakdong River Line. This walking tour connects the dots between war, remembrance, and peace.

Key Stops:

• Defense Bridge
• Old Waegwan Tunnel
• UN Victory Monument

Learn about Korea’s wartime past while honoring the soldiers of both Korea and the UN who fought for peace.

Hashtags to remember: #BridgeTour #KoreanWarHistory #PeaceWalk #MemorialPath #ChilgokWarHistory

💬 Building Real Fans, Not Just Visitors

“We’re building a brand, ‘Chilgok’, but we know fandom is the heartbeat.”

The Living Oil Mill team recently had a powerful conversation with branding expert Choi Won-jun (former HYBE fan club team lead and author of Fandom Power).

💡 The key takeaway? Branding = Relationships Marketing is simply the story of what we’re willing to give to one true fan.

“So, what are we willing to offer?” “Why should it be us?”

They’re still seeking those answers — but the path is clear: start with people, not products.

📌 Final Notes: Real Info from Real People

Forget the maps. Forget the paid ads. This blog only highlights real spots to see, eat, and explore in Chilgok — based on lived experiences, not Google stars.

🗺️ From hidden gems to local food joints, if it’s on this blog — it’s worth your time.

⏰ Reminder: Most events and spaces run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM — always double-check the schedule before visiting.