Lee Yeongju is the dedicated founder and owner of the Hyunam-dong Bookshop. Driven by a lifelong passion for reading, she opens the shop as a way to heal from past burnout at a demanding corporate job and the dissolution of her marriage. She is highly logical and prioritizes creating a welcoming, community-focused space over maximizing her financial profit.

Kim Minjun is a barista at the bookshop who takes the job after abandoning a stressful and unsuccessful job hunt. Formerly a top academic student, he loses faith in the corporate rat race and cultural expectations of success. He finds renewed purpose and dignity in perfecting the craft of making hand-drip coffee.

Hyun Seungwoo is an engineer-turned-author who gained a following through his blog analyzing Korean grammar and sentences. Despite his confident authorial voice, he is privately anxious, thoughtful, and weary from his professional obligations. He accepts an invitation to lead a writing seminar primarily because he is curious about the bookshop owner.

Jimi is the blunt and outspoken owner of Goat Beans, the coffee roaster that supplies the Hyunam-dong Bookshop. She struggles with deep dissatisfaction in her marriage but finds solace in her craft and candid conversations. She acts as a sounding board for her friends and regular customers.

Mincheol is a listless teenager struggling to find direction or passion in his life. At his mother's insistence, he begins spending time at the bookshop. He forms unexpected connections with the staff and regulars while searching for an activity that genuinely excites him.

Jungsuh is a regular customer who originally comes to the bookshop to meditate and eventually takes up crocheting and knitting. She uses the bookshop as a sanctuary to heal from severe anger and exhaustion caused by her exploitative experiences as a contract worker. She generously donates her handmade crochet scrubbies to the shop.

Jeon Heejoo is one of the bookshop's first regular customers and a mother who understands the struggles of starting over. She becomes highly involved in the bookshop's community and leads a reading group informally called the Book Club of Mums.

Sangsu is a gruff but knowledgeable regular customer who eventually begins working at the bookshop. He leverages his extensive pedantic knowledge of books to help customers find what they need, utilizing an unconventional but effective sales pitch.

Yoon Sungchul is a college friend of Minjun who pursues a career as a freelance movie critic. He advocates for doing what one loves rather than following conventional career paths, heavily influencing his friend's evolving perspective on life.

Chang-in is Yeongju's ex-husband, whom she met when they worked at the same office. His inability to provide emotional support during her severe burnout contributed to the dissolution of their marriage.

Taewoo is a mutual friend of Yeongju and her ex-husband. His sudden appearance at the Hyunam-dong Bookshop bridges the gap between Yeongju's past life and her current sanctuary.

Lee Ahreum is the author of the book Every Day I Read. She visits the bookshop to discuss the importance of reading and connecting with books emotionally rather than relying purely on intellect.

Choi Wooshik is a busy travel agency employee who shares a name with a famous actor. He is a dedicated regular at the bookshop who seeks quiet time after work and actively participates in book club meetings.