Expanding Reading Culture Foundation... Accelerating the Creation of the Book-Reading City 'Pohang'

'One Book One Pohang', Operation of Promotion Programs Including Resident Writer Support Project at Libraries

'Silgam Seojae' Opening in April, Promotion of Poeun Ocheon Library and Heunghae Public Library Construction

To foster a culture of a "Book-Reading City, Pohang," Pohang City is making every effort to expand the foundation of reading culture along with providing various lifestyle-oriented library services.

Inside Silgam Library.

Last April, Pohang City opened the "Pohang Immersive Library" at Poeun Central Library. This project was selected for the "Immersive Experience Center Creation Project" led by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with a budget of 85 million KRW from the national government and 172 million KRW from the city.

The Immersive Library is a permanent exhibition space where visitors can experience new library content utilizing advanced technology. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Poeun Central Library’s closed days.

Since 2006, Pohang City has been conducting the citywide reading promotion campaign "One Book One Pohang," and for 2023, the selected books of the year are "From Today, BFF! BFF!," "Hulhul," and "People of Jecheoldong."

From July 1 to August 31, a book review contest for the books of the year will be held nationwide, and various programs utilizing One Book, such as meetings with authors, will be conducted thereafter.

Additionally, through several selected public projects in the first half of 2023, lifestyle-oriented library services are being provided to satisfy citizens’ diverse cultural experience needs.

Poeun Central Library was selected for the "Resident Writer Support Project" (national funding of 18 million KRW), operating literary programs conducted by local writers residing at the library.

Also, through the "Library Humanities on the Road" project (national funding of 20 million KRW), programs exploring hidden places and stories of Pohang through lectures and field trips have been running from May to August.

At the Webtoon Experience and Creation Center, programs to strengthen citizens’ webtoon capabilities are operated under the "Webtoon Creation Experience Center Establishment and Operation Project" (national funding of 20 million KRW, city funding of 5 million KRW).

Moreover, the municipal libraries have been selected for projects such as the "Reading Academy Contest Project" (Daejam/national funding of 9 million KRW), "Immersive Creation Space Establishment Project" (Poeun Ocheon/national funding of 23 million KRW, city funding of 23 million KRW), and "Library Humanities on the Road" (Donghae Seokgok/national funding of 4 million KRW), striving to provide rich library services.

Alongside these efforts, Pohang City is promoting the construction of Poeun Ocheon Library and Heunghae Public Library to expand citizen complex cultural spaces.

Aerial view of Heunghaegong Public Library.

Poeun Ocheon Library, being built in Yongdeok-ri, Ocheon-eup, has a total project cost of 15.5 billion KRW (5.8 billion KRW national funding, 800 million KRW provincial funding, 8.7 billion KRW city funding, 200 million KRW special grants). The library will have a total floor area of 5,686㎡, with one basement floor and four above-ground floors. Construction began in December 2021, with the goal of opening in September this year.

Once opened, the library is expected to serve as a regional hub library for Nam-gu district and a children’s specialized library, establishing itself as a representative complex cultural and community space in the local society.

Heunghae Public Library is planned to open as a northern hub library centered in Heunghae-eup. It has a total floor area of 11,424㎡, with one basement floor and four above-ground floors. Construction started in December 2021 and is currently underway.

With a total project cost of 25 billion KRW (10 billion KRW national funding, 800 million KRW provincial funding, 14.2 billion KRW city funding), it is scheduled for completion in March 2024 and opening in the second half of 2024. The library will specialize in music to provide emotional stability for residents affected by the Heunghae earthquake.

A representative of Pohang City Library said, "Once these two libraries open, they are expected to guide balanced regional development as hub libraries for Nam-gu and Buk-gu districts and contribute to the spread of reading culture."

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