The central location, with its address at 1 Jong-ro (Jongno 1-ga), enabled the site to receive much enthusiasm from readers, bringing much needed life into a depressed publishing industry.

The Gwanghwamun Store is famous for its entrances, particularly the main entrance that one takes from Jongno 3-ga. Whereby before climbing the stairs to the heavy gate-doors, one can read in clear old-style Korean, across the outer wall of the passageway: "People create books, and books create people".

In May 2003, Kyobo Book Centre opened its eighth location (and third in Seoul) in Gangnam.

The interior and exterior of the Gwanghwamun bookstore was used as a filming location for the 2007 MBC television drama Coffee Prince.

Where the lead character of Choi Han-kyul buys books on coffee to nurture Go Eun-chan to be a barista, played by Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun-hye respectively.