Jungnang-gu Creates 'Dream-Filled Reading Space' in Aging School Libraries

This Year, 1.06 Billion KRW Invested to Radically Remodel Aging School Libraries...Reorganizing Existing Reading Rooms into Open, Communication-Centered Spaces, Also Open to Local Residents...Generous Investment in Education, Expanding Education Expenses to 8 Billion KRW by 2022

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) is investing 1.06 billion KRW this year to promote the remodeling project of the ‘Kkumdam Library’.

The ‘Kkumdam Library’ remodeling project aims to transform the existing narrow and closed school libraries, which are in the form of reading rooms, into open and creative spaces.

The core goal is to create a complex cultural space where students can freely communicate and collaborate beyond just a space for reading.

The district will start remodeling the school libraries of Bonghwa Elementary School, Sinhyeon Elementary School, and Sangbong Middle School from May, with the construction period expected to take just over a year.

Once remodeling is completed, the libraries will be open not only to the students of the respective schools but also to parents and local residents, serving as a bridge between the community and the schools.

Going forward, the district plans to continuously improve aging school libraries in the area so that more students can use the Kkumdam Library.

Over the past two years, the district has invested 1.78 billion KRW to transform a total of 12 school libraries into ‘Kkumdam Libraries.’ In 2019, five schools including Myeonjung Elementary and Junghwa Middle were improved, and in 2020, seven schools including Myeondong Elementary, Wonmuk Middle, and Ewha Media High School had their libraries comfortably renovated.

The Ewha Media High School library, established last year, provides not only spaces for discussions but also areas equipped for utilizing video materials suited to the characteristics of a media high school. In the case of Mukdong Elementary and Jungnang Middle, the walls of the existing libraries were removed to create multipurpose spaces for students such as discussion areas, ondol (heated floor) rooms, movie theaters, and cafes.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “Libraries must change to become spaces where students feel comfortable and want to visit frequently, keeping pace with the changing educational environment. We will continue to invest at the highest level in education for the children who are the future of Jungnang.”

Meanwhile, this year the district has allocated 7 billion KRW in educational expense subsidies, an increase of 1 billion KRW from last year’s 6 billion KRW. Of this, 4 billion KRW will support academic improvement areas such as the free semester system and basic academic skill class coordination, and 3 billion KRW will be used for environmental improvement areas including Kkumdam Library remodeling and school bus operation. The district plans to expand the education budget to 8 billion KRW next year.

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