🛒 Best Platforms to Access Korean Learning Materials in Canada
- For domestic purchase, visit the online website of Indigo, Today's Books Canada and Rakuten Kobo
- For international purchase of more niche and local Korean publications, visit TwoChois and GMarket
- Notable local bookstores with extensive physical Korean language collection include Today's Books Canada and Noorongji Books
- Public libraries, university libraries and Korean community centres are a great way to access free Korean learning materials in your preferred format
Nothing beats the thrill of owning your first Korean language learning book as language learner. Whether you are learning the Hangeul alphabet from scratch or browsing a Korean dictionary to look up the meaning of a word or sentence that you have come across from your favourite Korean content creators, a solid Korean language learning collection offer you a sense of direction and motivation to improve. Continue reading this article to learn more about where to find the best Korean books in Canada.
🛍️ Online Retailers Offering Korean Books in Canada
Online shopping is the norm these days, even for book purchases. So here are three recommendations to get the ball rolling to buy your first or next Korean books online.
📦 Indigo
What better way to start with the biggest bookstore in Canada? Indigo offers a wide selection of Korean language books for both language learning and leisure (offline and online). Whether you are looking for a beginner Korean grammar workbook for yourself or a Korean vocabulary picture book for your child, you can easily access the books through local shipping.1
Its website offers a user-friendly interface where you can filter your search results for easy browsing and purchasing according to the following:
- Release date
- Newest arrivals
- Price range (from high to low, or low to high)
- Best matches (titles or authors)
🔖 Availability for delivery tab
🔖 Store locator for free pickup
🔖 Language for Korean learning books (English or French)
🔖 Book format (Paperback, Kobo ebook, audiobook, hardcover)
📦 Today's Books Canada
Our second recommendation is an authentic Korean bookstore that is based in Burnaby, British Columbia. Today's Books Canada offers an extensive online catalogue 2 that covers various genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and children's books, which focuses primarily on Korean authors and local publications. Here are some examples:
Books by Korean authors
- The Vegetarian by Han Kang
- The Poetry of Mindfulness by Ryu Si Hwa
Translated book titles
- H마트에서 울다 (Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner)
- 아주 작은 습관의 힘 (Atomic Habits by James Clear)
Learning Korean
- Korean Vocabulary Practice for Foreigners
- Korea Stories from Every Corner of Korea 1 – English Set
Important note: The online website of this bookstore is mainly in Korea. If you need more clarification on the books you're looking for, you can opt for Google Translate or contact the shop directly by calling or leaving a message.
🔖 Free nationwide shipping on orders over $89
🔖 Easy navigation of bestsellers according to categories
🔖 50% special discount is available for selected books
🔖 Updates of curated book list on Instagram
📦 Rakuten Kobo
For e-book, audiobook lovers, and avid digital readers, you should certainly check out Rakuten Kobo to look for your next pick for language learning resources and popular Korean literature.3
It has a growing collection of 100% Korean and bilingual Korean digital learning titles. Regardless of which part you're in the country, you can enjoy instant download access with local Canadian billing (without any import or shipping costs).
🔖 Accessible through Kobo eReaders (Clara, Libra, etc.) Kobo mobile app (iOS/Android), and Kobo desktop web reader
🔖 Immediate text and font support when you read
🔖 Can be paired with a digital dictionary or online translation tools
🔖 Updates will be synced across different devices whenever you purchase a new book
✈️ International Online Stores Shipping to Canada
Apart from online retailers, you can also explore other international online stores that ship to Canada for a wider selection of Korean learning materials (just in case you cannot find them in local retailers), book cost, as well as shipping convenience.
📚 Twochois
Twochois is a popular choice among Korean learners across the globe to purchase different Korean learning textbooks, workbooks, or bilingual books (Eng- Korean). Even though the bookstore is based in Busan, Korea, its online catalogue caters to international shipping of products through DHL (which includes Canada) with clear tracking progress mail notification once your order is finalized.
If you are an absolute beginner in learning Korean, you will find many categories of books to learn and practice Hangeul at Twochois, like the following:
- Pronunciation
- Penmanship workbooks
- Korean dictionary
- Hanja (Chinese characters in Korean)
- Listening
- Grammar
- Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Korean study textbooks
- Books written by Korean universities
📚 Gmarket
Known as Korea's number 1 shopping site, Gmarket offers a seamless online purchasing process for your desired Korean learning materials. This popular Korean e-commerce platform is easy to sign up for and log in to, with easy tabs to change the shipping country (Canada) and currency (Canadian dollar). You might even get a good deal of discounts through the site's download coupons for a targeted amount.
Important note: Any shipping of your purchased products to Canada is handled by EMS. International shipping usually takes 5 to 15 days, depending on the courier and customs regulations.
🏬 Local Bookstores in Canada With Korean Books Selection
We understand that some of you prefer to visit a physical bookstore in your nearest city and browse through the books at your fingertips.
A book store is a treasure chest. Every time you walk in one, you strike gold.
Regina Brett
Here are some of our top recommendations according to different areas across the country:
📖 Burnaby: Today's Books Canada
So far, Today's Books Canada is the only Korean specialty bookstore in Canada with both physical and online catalogues. It is well known among the locals for its wide selection of Korean books (including the latest bestsellers), swift and friendly staff service, as well as in-store discounts.
- Address: 4501 North Road #103 Korea Plaza, #6, Burnaby, BC V3N 4M8, Canada
- Email: info@todaysbooks.ca
📖 Vancouver: Nooroongji Books
Our next recommendation is Nooroongji Books, a multilingual curation independent bookstore that is based in Vancouver. This cozy bookstore is opened by Jennifer Kim, who immigrated from Seoul to Canada in the 90s as a child. The bookstore is named after the Korean word, 누룽지, for the scorched bits that coalesce at the bottom of a pot of rice as a representation of Asian culture.
Apart from Korean language learning books, book lovers can also explore niche Korean titles that are specifically imported from Korea, as well as other Asian language books like Chinese and Filipino.
- Address: 1666 Johnston St. Unit 6, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S2, Canada
- Email: hello@nooroongji.ca
🏛️ Utilizing Libraries and Community Centers
Besides buying Korean books and learning materials from physical and online outlets, you can also visit public libraries and community centers to support your Korean language learning journey.
🎓 Korean Sections in Public Libraries & University Libraries
Public libraries in Canada offer a wide selection of foreign language materials that you can access for free. Whether you are looking for bilingual children's books, standard Korean language textbooks, workbooks, or even Korean magazines, you can borrow them without cost.
Here are some libraries to visit:
➤ Has over 4,000 Korean‐language books, e-books, and audio materials, with free library card access across 10 branches for Toronto residents
➤ Specially curated Korean language collections for adults and children, where readers can check location availability and current book borrowing status online before visiting the library
➤ Dedicated Korean collection for different genres and age groups, offering Korean books, magazines, newspapers, and even digital Korean content for teens and kids
➤ The largest and oldest research collection for Korean studies in Canada, with over 88,000 physical volumes of Korean language materials
➤ Has an extensive section for Korean language resources for beginners, intermediates, and advanced learners, including Korean learning textbooks in Chinese and Japanese, as well as special materials on Hanja and Korean culture
👥 Community Centers and Cultural Organizations
You might be surprised to learn that many community centers and cultural organizations in Canada are dedicated to teaching and promoting the Korean language, catering to both Koreans and non-Koreans.4 Many of these centers are located in major urban cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa, where large Korean communities have established themselves over the years.
Here are some notable examples:
➤ The representative Korean cultural institution in Canada, offering Korean language classes, cultural workshops, and Korean book exhibitions
➤ Largest Korean organization in Canada, offering community support programs for the public, such as language lessons, arts, music, and dance programs
➤ Offers online Korean language learning courses and also organizes cultural immersion events throughout the year
➤ Works together with Calgary Korean School and Korean Conversation Community (KCC) to foster Korean learning and engagement
✨ Tips for Purchasing Korean Books In/Outside Canada
If you are purchasing Korean books for the first time, here are some useful tips to maximize your value and time to have the best Korean learning experience.
🤝 Understanding Shipping Costs and Times
Of course, this depends on the books that you intend to buy in terms of physical availability. If you manage to find the books from a local Canadian retailer like Today's Books Canada, the shipping fee will be lower and the delivery time will be faster as compared to Korean-based retailers like Twochois or GMarket.
| Seller | Shipping Details | Delivery time |
|---|---|---|
| Indigo | Free shipping on orders over $35 within Canada only; international shipping via forwarding services | Standard: 1-7 business days after shipment. Priority: 1-4 business days. |
| Today's Books Canada | Free shipping Canada-wide when you purchase over CAD $89 (per their site) | Likely similar 2-7 business days for BC/Canada; may differ according to branch |
| Twochois | Uses DHL or EMS for international shipments | Varies according to country but can be tracked |
| Noroongji | Mostly caters to in-store purchase | Not available |
| Gmarket | Payable in multiple currencies. Shipping typicallycots $20-$40 CAD | Express shipping in 4-7 days available. |
🤝 Checking for Digital Versions
Another way to secure the best purchase deals is to buy digital Korean language learning materials, according to your preferred format, whether it's e-books or audiobooks.
Digital textbooks and workbooks versions like the ones you can find on Rakuten Kobo are gaining more popularity these days because they offer great convenience in terms of access and price point. All you need is a mobile device and a stable Internet connection to start downloading and reading without worrying about shipping fees or delays.
Some language learners even pair these digital materials, like PDFs with Korean learning apps, to have a more immersive learning experience when they make their own notes and highlights.
🤝 Exploring Second-Hand Options
Finally, you can't go wrong with buying second-hand Korean books. That's because they have already been purchased and proven to be readable and useful to a certain extent by their previous owner.
One good way to find quality and reliable second-hand Korean language learning books is through a local or online Korean language learning community.
It is where you can review the edition and condition of the book before finalizing the purchase.
You might even get to swap books and exchange book recommendations according to your learning interests and learning levels. Some second-hand books even come with the previous owners' personal notes and annotations, which can be a great help when you are learning.
And of course, buying secondhand books is also more friendly for the environment and your wallet in the long run.
🧠 Master Korean At Your Pace With Superprof
Now that you have reviewed the places to buy Korean learning materials in Canada, you might be thinking whether it's sufficient to learn Korean effectively all by yourself. For instance, you might wonder if you are reading and speaking Korean correctly according to the native pronunciation and grammar. Having an experienced and qualified Korean tutor (especially a native Korean tutor) will help you to overcome your doubts and build your confidence to speak, read, and write in Korean naturally and confidently.
We highly recommend that you find a private tutor on Superprof to cater to your learning pace, goals, and preferences. In fact, many Superprof Korean tutors welcome students to bring along their Korean textbooks and learning materials during their lessons too, so you can be at ease.
One-to-one tutoring is a great way to master a language comprehensively without feeling overwhelmed. The lessons will be personalized, and every student gets to enjoy undivided guidance and immediate feedback, which guarantees consistent progress. Not only that, he or she can offer you amazing insights on Korean culture, which makes up a big part of the Korean language.
What are you waiting for? Head to the Superprof Canada homepage and book your first Korean lesson with a tutor today!
References
- Indigo Books & Music Inc. (n.d.). Buy Korean books online | Indigo. https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/languages/asian-languages/korean/
- Today's Books Canada. (n.d.). Today’s Books Canada. Today’s Books Canada. https://www.todaysbooks.ca/
- Kobo.com Canada store - ebooks, audiobooks, ereaders and reading apps (n.d). (Accessed: 25 October 2025). https://www.kobo.com/ca/en
- Korean Cultural Centre Canada. (n.d.). https://canada.korean-culture.org/EN ✈️
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