[2022 National Audit] 1,320 'Small Libraries' Closed or Suspended Over the Past 3 Years

40% of the Population Uses It, but 672 Locations Are Closed
"Local Governments Should Collaborate to Provide Detailed Support and Policies"

It has been revealed that 17% of the 'small libraries' promoted by the government and local governments over three years with a budget of 150 billion KRW have been temporarily closed or shut down.

According to data released on the 5th by Yoo Jeong-ju, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee (Democratic Party), from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and seventeen metropolitan local governments, 1,320 small libraries have been temporarily closed or shut down since 2019. The number of users has not significantly decreased. In 2020 and last year, 22 million people visited each year. Despite the spread of COVID-19, four out of ten citizens visited.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism publishes an annual survey on the status of small libraries. According to this, in 2019, only 648 out of 7,320 small libraries (8.9%) were temporarily closed or shut down. However, the following year, 1,026 out of 7,500 (13.9%), and last year, 1,320 out of 7,768 (17%) were temporarily closed or shut down. In particular, the number of permanently closed small libraries reached 672 over the past three years. By region, Gyeonggi-do (110), Seoul (102), Chungbuk (13), and Incheon (10) had the highest numbers.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and seventeen metropolitan local governments invested 155.9 billion KRW over the past three years in the opening and operational support of small libraries. This year, 35.3 billion KRW was also supported. Registration and management are under the authority of local governments. The Ministry mainly handles tasks such as librarian support. However, there are ongoing criticisms that, as the main ministry in charge of the project, it should establish activation measures. Assembly member Yoo urged, "More detailed support and policies are needed," and called for "considering multifaceted activation plans through enhanced exchange and cooperation with local governments."

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