Seodaemun-gu, Purchase Library Books at Local Bookstores at List Price

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on the 2nd that it will purchase books for public libraries and public small libraries at local bookstores at full price throughout this year to support local bookstores struggling due to COVID-19.

This year's book purchase budget is a total of 257 million KRW, including 194 million KRW for public libraries and 63 million KRW for public small libraries. The district plans to purchase books through the local bookstore cooperative organization, the 'Seodaemun Bookstore Cooperative.'

By purchasing books at full price, about 38 million KRW, which is 15% of the total purchase amount, will be returned to local bookstores.

In response, the Seodaemun Bookstore Cooperative plans to allocate part of its profits to a fund and use it in consultation with Seodaemun Public Library for reading culture programs targeting information-vulnerable groups.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, stated, "We will continue to strengthen cooperation with local bookstores to revitalize the local economy and local culture."

Since 2015, Seodaemun-gu has been purchasing books for libraries from local bookstores every year, and in 2019, it enacted the 'Ordinance to Support the Revitalization of Local Bookstores for the Promotion of Reading Culture' to stabilize the management of local bookstores and promote reading culture.