Seoul City to Invest 26.3 Billion Won in Libraries This Year... 40 Additional Public Libraries by 2025

Support for the Construction of 12 Public Libraries Including Dobong Hanok Library and Jungnang Myeonmokdong Library This Year
121 Billion Won Provided for Book Purchases and More to 547 Existing Small and Disabled Libraries

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will invest an additional 26.3 billion KRW this year to support the construction and operation of public libraries. This year, construction will begin on 12 district-run libraries across 7 autonomous districts, including Dobong-gu's 'Hanok Library' and Jungnang-gu's 'Myeonmok-dong Library.'

On the 17th, Seoul announced it will allocate 13 billion KRW for public library construction support, 12.1 billion KRW for library operation support, and 1.2 billion KRW for household-specific reading culture programs. Based on plans to add 40 public libraries by 2025, focusing on areas lacking libraries, construction will start this year on 12 district-run libraries in 7 autonomous districts.

In addition to expanding library infrastructure, Seoul will invest in upgrading existing library services. Operating expenses of 12.1 billion KRW will be provided to 547 autonomous district public libraries, including small libraries and libraries for the disabled, to expand their collections. The ‘Bookstart’ program, which gifts book packages to infants under 18 months to help form reading habits from birth, will support around 40,000 children this year.

Over the past 20 years, Seoul has expanded 154 public libraries (district-run). In terms of area, this is equivalent to 28.5 soccer fields (a total floor area of about 200,000 square meters). Since 2019, the focus has been on ‘regional balanced development,’ concentrating on building public libraries in underserved areas.

Following the opening of 9 district-run libraries last year, including Jayang Hangang Library (Gwangjin-gu) and Son Ki-jeong Children's Library (Jung-gu), this year 13 billion KRW will be invested to support the construction of 12 district-run libraries. From this year through 2025, the city plans to add 40 more libraries to strengthen the role of libraries as public facilities for learning, communication, exchange, and cultural life.

To create an equitable service environment across libraries, operating expenses will be provided to 547 public libraries in 25 autonomous districts for collection expansion and other needs. The recipients include all 165 district-run public libraries (7.4 billion KRW), 350 public and private small libraries (700 million KRW), 10 libraries for the disabled (700 million KRW), and 22 education office libraries (3.3 billion KRW). Budgets for each library will be allocated differentially based on indicators such as the financial independence of the district, legal librarian staffing rates, and the integration of city-district policies.

Customized online and offline reading culture programs will be offered by generation. To ensure uninterrupted enjoyment of reading culture even during COVID-19, programs based on non-face-to-face environments and smartphones will continue to expand. Seoul will distribute about 40,000 ‘Bookstart’ book packages to infants under 18 months. The program supports forming reading habits from birth and provides various online and offline education and experience programs for infants and their caregivers.

Lee Jung-soo, Director of the Seoul Library, said, “Seoul is continuously expanding library infrastructure to become a city where all citizens can enjoy knowledge, information, and culture without regional disparities. We will support the quantitative and qualitative growth of public libraries as public facilities with knowledge, information, and culture, not just spaces for reading books, and continue efforts to ensure citizens can safely and conveniently use library services in the post-COVID era.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.