This Year, I Will Lie Down and Read a Book at Gwanghwamun Square Again

Seoul City Launches Full-Scale Implementation of Three Core Book Culture Projects

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] On the 25th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that this year it will focus on three major cultural projects for citizens to enjoy culture through books as part of its key cultural initiatives to realize a ‘city where citizens happily enjoy culture through culture.’

First, the ‘Reading Seoul Plaza,’ which was newly launched last year and attracted a total of 210,000 citizens throughout the year, will expand its operation from three days a week to four days a week. Additionally, the ‘Gwanghwamun Chaekmadang’ will be newly established at Gwanghwamun Plaza so that citizens can enjoy books and culture close to their daily lives. Furthermore, the ‘Mom Book(Book) Dodum’ project, a ‘book box delivery service’ for parents expecting childbirth, will be actively promoted for the first time this year.

First, in August last year, the newly opened Gwanghwamun Plaza, which has become a new emotional and cultural resting place for Seoul citizens, will be home to the ‘Gwanghwamun Chaekmadang.’ Scheduled to open on April 23, ‘World Book Day,’ the ‘Gwanghwamun Chaekmadang’ will be designed as an environment where people can get close to books during their journey of walking (Flow) and briefly staying (Stay), in line with the characteristics of the pedestrian plaza. The ‘Gwanghwamun Chaekmadang’ will operate as five hubs: two indoor locations (Gwanghwamun Lounge, Sejong Lounge inside Sejong Center for the Performing Arts) and three outdoor locations (Yukjo Madang, Nori Madang, Haechi Madang). Among these, the ‘Gwanghwamun Chaekmadang Sejong Center Branch (tentative name)’ at Sejong Lounge will begin pilot operation from February.

Also, the ‘Reading Seoul Plaza,’ which was created as the world’s first ‘open outdoor library’ and attracted about 211,000 citizens last year, will open on April 23, ‘World Book Day,’ and operate until mid-November (closed during the hot summer months of July and August).

This year, to allow more citizens to enjoy the ‘Reading Seoul Plaza,’ the operating days will be expanded from three days a week to four days a week (two weekdays and two weekend days). This reflects citizens’ voices from a satisfaction survey, where 88.1% responded that they wished for extended operating days.

The colorful open bookshelf, which has become a symbol of the ‘Reading Seoul Plaza,’ will be stocked with about 5,000 new books on new themes on the 11th.

In addition, Seoul will actively promote the ‘Mom Book(Book) Dodum’ project, a ‘book delivery service’ that directly reaches citizens who need childcare-related information through books. This project delivers book packages helpful for childcare families from the third month of pregnancy to three months after childbirth.

Moreover, the city will also promote the ‘Mom Book(Book) Dodum Program Support Project,’ which supports parenting through book culture programs. This expands the existing book culture programs, which focused on reading activities for infants and toddlers, into a ‘caregiver-centered program’ focusing on information exchange and communication among parents who are the actual caregivers.

Meanwhile, Seoul will support a budget of 7.79 billion KRW for public library operations in 25 autonomous districts this year so that all citizens can enjoy various library services regardless of their residential area. Also, citizens can enjoy various themed and diverse cultural programs with books at book culture spaces such as Seoul Chaekbogo (used book-based), Seoul Art Chaekbogo (art book-based), and Seoul-style Bookstore (neighborhood cultural space).

Choi Kyung-joo, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Culture Headquarters, said, “We have continuously considered cultural projects that allow citizens to enjoy culture closely in their daily lives and enrich their lives through culture,” adding, “Through Seoul’s diverse book culture programs this year, we hope citizens will increase their opportunities to enjoy culture and have a emotionally fulfilling year.”

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