Terms of Service

This document is a translation provided for convenience. In the event of any discrepancy or conflict between this translation and the Korean version, the Korean version shall prevail.

Thank you for using BookBuddy (hereinafter referred to as the 'Service'). These Terms of Service guide users regarding rights, obligations, and responsibilities between the Service and users when using the Service.

The effective date of these Terms is September 18, 2026.

1. Purpose

The purpose of these Terms is to stipulate the fundamental matters necessary for the use of 'BookBuddy', a reading tracking and character development application provided by Soonmu Shop (hereinafter referred to as the 'Operator').

2. Definitions

The definitions of terms used in these Terms are as follows:

• 'Service' means the BookBuddy mobile application provided so that users can use features including reading records, reading timer, study room decoration, and buddy (reading friend) social features.
• 'User' means members and non-members who agree to these Terms and use the Service.
• 'Member' means a person who signs up for the Service via Google account integration and continuously uses the Service.
• 'BookBuddy coin' means consumable virtual currency used within the Service to purchase study room decoration items or use features.
• 'Item' means digital content that can be obtained within the Service using BookBuddy coins, etc., or utilized for room decoration.
• 'In-App Purchase' means the act of purchasing paid digital goods such as BookBuddy coins through the payment system of an app market (Google Play, etc.).

3. Effect and Modification of Terms

• These Terms become effective upon being posted within the Service or announced through a linked screen.
• The Operator may revise these Terms to the extent that it does not violate relevant laws and regulations.
• When revising the Terms, the Operator shall announce the effective date and reasons for revision through in-app notices at least 7 days prior (30 days prior in the case of changes disadvantageous to users).
• If the User continues to use the Service after the effective date of the amended Terms, the User is deemed to have agreed to the amended Terms.

4. Provision and Modification of Service

The Operator provides the following services to users:

• Reading record and bookshelf management features
• Reading timer and session tracking features
• Character growth and study room decoration features
• Adding BookBuddy friends, real-time reading status, and shared bookshelf checking features
• BookBuddy coin granting feature through watching rewarded ads
• BookBuddy coin charging and item purchasing features through in-app purchases
• All other services that the Operator develops additionally or provides through partnerships

The Operator strives to provide stable services, and may temporarily suspend or modify all or part of the Service if necessary for system maintenance or operational needs.

5. Conclusion of Service Agreement and Membership

• The service contract is established when the User installs the app, agrees to these Terms, and starts Google account integration or browsing as a guest.
• The User must provide accurate information when signing up, and must not steal another person's information or enter false facts.
• The Operator may refuse approval of membership registration or restrict usage afterward in the following cases:
• When another person's account or information is stolen
• When intending to use the Service for improper purposes or commercial profit
• When having a history of sanctions for violating relevant laws or these Terms

6. Account Management and User Obligations

• The User is responsible for managing their account and device.
• The User must not engage in any of the following acts when using the Service:
• Unauthorized use of another user's account or information
• Improper acquisition of BookBuddy coins or items using bugs or abnormal methods
• Obstructing the normal operation of the Service or placing an excessive load on servers and systems
• Causing unpleasant feelings to other users by setting inappropriate nicknames or introductory profiles
• Infringing on the rights or intellectual property rights of others
• Acts contrary to relevant laws, regulations, or public order

7. Payment and Use of BookBuddy coins (Paid and Free Virtual Goods)

• Members may obtain BookBuddy coins through participation in free events within the Service, such as watching rewarded ads and reading rewards.
• Members may purchase BookBuddy coins for a fee through the in-app purchase system provided by app markets (Google Play, etc.). In principle, billing and payment for paid purchases follow the policies and methods set by app market operators or mobile carriers.
• BookBuddy coin is a consumable product that is exhausted when used for designated purposes, such as purchasing in-app items.
• BookBuddy coins can only be used for designated purposes within the Service, and cannot be exchanged for cash, transferred, or resold to others.
• BookBuddy coins and items acquired through improper methods may be confiscated, and account usage may be restricted.

8. Right of Withdrawal and Refunds

• For BookBuddy coins purchased for a fee, withdrawal from the purchase (payment cancellation) may be requested within 7 days from the purchase date in accordance with relevant laws, including the Act on the Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, etc.
• However, if the BookBuddy coins have already been consumed, such as using part or all of them to purchase items, withdrawal from the purchase may be restricted pursuant to Article 17, Paragraph 2 of the Electronic Commerce Act.
• BookBuddy coins granted free of charge through free events, rewarded ad views, etc., are excluded from refunds and withdrawal from the purchase.
• If a minor makes a paid payment without the consent of a legal representative, the minor or the legal representative may cancel the payment in accordance with relevant laws. However, cancellation may be restricted if the minor stole an adult's payment information or used deception to induce belief that consent existed.
• Specific payment cancellation procedures, refund standards, and fee policies operate in accordance with relevant laws and app market (Google Play, etc.) refund policies, and detailed procedures are guided via in-app customer support or separate notices.
• If a user suffers damage due to an abnormal payment error or system failure, a refund or re-issuance will be promptly processed in accordance with relevant laws after verification through customer inquiries.

9. Expiration and Validity Period of BookBuddy coins

• As BookBuddy coin is a consumable virtual currency, the commercial extinctive prescription of BookBuddy coins purchased for a fee is 5 years from the last recharge date or use date pursuant to Article 64 of the Commercial Act. BookBuddy coins not used after 5 years have elapsed may expire.
• If a member voluntarily deletes the account (account withdrawal) or the contract is terminated due to a violation of the Terms, remaining BookBuddy coins and owned items stored on the server are immediately and permanently destroyed, and recovery or refund is not possible. Members must exhaust all remaining BookBuddy coins or proceed with lawful refund procedures prior to deleting their account.

10. Service Use Restrictions and Contract Termination

• Users may terminate the use of the Service and proceed with account deletion at any time via the 'Settings > Delete Account' menu within the app.
• When a member withdraws, all data stored on the server—account information, profiles, friend relationships, shared bookshelves, BookBuddy coins, item ownership information, room decoration information, and account preferences—is immediately deleted and cannot be recovered (provided that payment and transaction records subject to retention obligations under relevant laws such as the Electronic Commerce Act are retained separately for statutory periods).
• Personal reading records and settings data stored on the device are also initialized simultaneously.
• If a member commits a material breach of the obligations in these Terms, the Operator may restrict the use of the Service or terminate the service contract after prior notice.

11. Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights

• Copyright and intellectual property rights for all content provided within the Service (characters, illustrations, designs, trademarks, software, etc.) belong to the Operator.
• Copyright for reading records, notes, bookshelves, etc., directly created by the User within the Service belongs to the respective User.
• The User may not reproduce, distribute, or commercially use the Operator's intellectual property rights obtained in the course of using the Service without the prior consent of the Operator.

12. Disclaimer of Liability

• The Operator is not liable for failure to provide the Service due to natural disasters, force majeure system failures, or telecommunication network errors.
• The Operator is not liable for disruptions in service use attributable to the User's fault.
• The Operator is not liable for data loss (such as reading notes and detailed bookshelf records stored only on the User's device) caused by device loss, initialization, or app deletion.
• The Operator has no obligation to intervene in disputes arising between users or between users and third parties mediated by the Service, and bears no liability arising therefrom.

13. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

• For disputes arising between the Service and users in connection with these Terms, the laws of the Republic of Korea shall apply as the governing law.
• In the event of litigation regarding the use of the Service, the competent court under the Civil Procedure Act shall be the court of competent jurisdiction.

14. Business Information and Inquiries

If you have any questions or complaints regarding the Service, please contact us at the contact information below.

Operator Information

• Trade Name / Representative: Soonmu Shop (순무샵) / Lee Sun-young
• Business Registration Number: 378-01-03514
• Mail-Order Business Report Number: 2026-화성동탄-1050
• Address: 902, 9th Floor, 42 Metapolis-ro, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea (경기 화성시 동탄구 메타폴리스로 42 9층 902)
• Representative Contact: 070-8027-4926
• Email: soonmu.devforge@gmail.com