Seoul Outdoor Library (Image courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government)
SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — After a summer break during the peak heat, the Seoul Outdoor Library will reopen on September 5 and run through November 2, the city government announced Thursday.
The library will operate evenings (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.) throughout September before shifting to daytime hours (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) in late October as the weather cools.
This year’s fall season emphasizes cultural exchange, reflecting the growing number of foreign visitors, who accounted for 11 percent of total attendees in the first half of 2025.
The program includes collaborations with five countries — Ireland, Peru, China, Italy, and India — offering citizens and tourists cultural experiences alongside books.
The first international event, “Travel Library: Ireland Edition,” will run September 12–14, featuring Irish author Sinéad Moriarty’s lecture on the power of writing and children’s illustration workshops by Alan Nolan.
Services for overseas visitors have been expanded, with more than 2,000 foreign-language titles and translated editions of Korean novels and films available.
Foreign tourists taking commemorative photos at the Seoul Outdoor Library. ( Image courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government)
A new “Curated Zone” will highlight guidebooks on Seoul’s landmarks, while a custom soundscape — developed with Soundwolf and incorporating recordings of Seoul Plaza skies, Gwanghwamun mountains, and Cheonggyecheon stream — will accompany reading sessions.
Beyond central Seoul, the city will extend outdoor reading to neighborhood parks and cultural sites through pop-up libraries and local installations, including in Seongbuk and Nowon districts.
Korea’s first public book club, Hipdok Club, will also resume in-person gatherings, expanding from Seoul Book Repository to locations in Gangwon, Gangneung, and Daejeon.
Ahead of the reopening, special preview events include the “Summer Night Library” on August 22–24 at the Seoul Metropolitan Astronomical Observatory, featuring stargazing, sci-fi film screenings, and live cello performances.
From August 28–31, the “Reading by the Clear Stream” program will invite visitors to enjoy books along Cheonggyecheon to the sound of running water.
Details are available at seouloutdoorlibrary.kr and the library’s Instagram channels.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
