Mayor Park Seung-won praised the community's involvement in creating a unique book festival for Gwangmyeong on September 19.
During the '2026 Gwangmyeong Book Festival' held at the outdoor lawn of the Gwangmyeong Citizens' Gymnasium, Mayor Park emphasized the importance of communication through books with local residents.
He is accelerating efforts to promote reading culture and establish Gwangmyeong as a 'City of Reading' based on citizen participation.
This year's festival, themed 'The Beginning of Infinite Exploration, A Friendly Book Journey!', saw participation from public libraries, small libraries, local bookstores, reading culture communities, as well as the Gwangmyeong Education Support Office and local schools, making it a collaborative event for citizens and the community.
Mayor Park has consistently highlighted the importance of citizen engagement and communication in governance, as well as the expansion of lifelong learning and educational culture.
The festival focused on fostering a reading culture that allows citizens to engage with books in their daily lives and learn from one another.
Activities included an opening performance, a book concert by author Woo Shin-young, a children's puppet show, a human library, an exhibition of this year's books, a book exchange, a book market, and a citizen bazaar.
Notably, the lawn area featured interactive programs such as a book playground, photo zones, a stamp tour, and 'Gwangmyeong Book Journey: The Game of Life,' which attracted families.
Local residents responded positively to the book festival.
One citizen remarked, 'It was great to have various activities centered around books that the whole family could enjoy. I hope it helps children feel more comfortable with books.'
Another citizen noted, 'It felt like the entire city of Gwangmyeong was connected through books, with participation from not just libraries but also schools, local bookstores, and reading communities. I hope there are more opportunities for citizens to engage with books in their daily lives.'
Mayor Park emphasized, 'I will continue to work towards creating a city where everyone can learn and grow through books.'
Looking ahead, Mayor Park plans to strengthen connections among local libraries, educational institutions, bookstores, and reading culture communities to promote citizen participation in reading culture.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.