Central Seoul is being recast as a city of readers. Areas once closely associated with rallies and protests — Gwanghwamun Plaza, Seoul Plaza and parts of the Cheonggyecheon stream corridor — are drawing strong public response as places to read and relax.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Sunday it has opened its outdoor library program, operating spaces at Gwanghwamun Plaza and along Cheonggyecheon where residents can read freely. Visitors who came over the weekend spent time reading or resting in warm spring sunshine.
Along Cheonggyecheon, seats filled with people reading to the sound of running water. At Gwanghwamun Plaza, a “book yard” offered a range of setups, from cushioned chairs for reclining with a book to small tents for quieter personal time.
Visitors said they welcomed the change, coming with friends, partners and family. One resident of Gwanak-gu said, “Downtown always feels noisy, so it feels special to have a place like this where you can read quietly.” Another resident, from Seocho-gu, said, “When I think of Gwanghwamun, I only think of rallies, traffic and noise, so I can’t say how happy I am that there’s now a place to read.”
The “Seoul Outdoor Library” began in 2022 as “Reading Seoul Plaza,” aimed at helping people encounter reading culture in everyday life. The city expanded the concept beyond indoor libraries to sites across the downtown area. Seoul said the program drew a cumulative 8 million visitors through last year.
Seoul plans to open an additional “Reading Plaza” on May 1. The city said it will place about 5,000 books each at Seoul Plaza and Gwanghwamun Plaza, and about 2,000 along Cheonggyecheon — about 12,000 in total — to broaden access.
The initiative has also drawn international attention. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development selected the Seoul Outdoor Library as an example of government innovation, and 22 overseas institutions, including from Japan and the United States, have sought to benchmark it, the city said.
Lee Min-kyung, spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said the reading spaces are expanding around Gwanghwamun Plaza and Cheonggyecheon for use in all four seasons. “We will continue to expand an environment where anyone can easily access books in the heart of the city,” Lee said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.