Opening of Dongjak-gu Kim Young-sam Library

Reborn as a Complex Cultural Facility After 2 Years of Remodeling... 5 Basement to 8 Above-Ground Floors ▲ VR Experience Room ▲ Infant and Children's Zone ▲ Book Cafe ▲ Digital Media Zone Created as a Complex Cultural Space Expansion of Public Libraries by Region... Complex Libraries Scheduled to Open in Heukseok-dong in Late Next Year and Sindaebang-dong in Late 2022

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) has opened the newly remodeled Dongjak-gu Kim Young-sam Library (1 Maebong-ro) after completing remodeling work over the past two years.

In August 2018, the district signed a business agreement with the Kim Young-sam Democracy Center to donate the library, aiming to create a public library open to residents and a complex cultural space for the local community.

Last year, incorporating residents' opinions, a design competition was held to improve the interior space, with a total budget of 4.843 billion KRW invested.

In response to demands for securing resident communication spaces, the district planned the basement level 2 as a mezzanine, arranging six small community spaces such as ▲group activity rooms and ▲seminar rooms, and also reflected spaces for slow learners such as ▲youth and ▲disabled persons in the design.

Additionally, for the convenience of users, the rooftop garden and an elevator were extended by one floor for caf? visitors.

The Dongjak-gu Kim Young-sam Library, with a total floor area of 6,503.19㎡ and spanning from basement level 5 to the 8th floor above ground, has been reborn as an open complex cultural facility offering ▲history and culture, ▲communication spaces, and ▲play and relaxation.

Basement levels 2 to 3 house community meeting spaces for local residents, including ▲seminar rooms, ▲community rooms, and a ▲large auditorium, while basement level 1 features an ▲integrated desk and the Kim Young-sam Presidential Exhibition Hall (YS Agora).

The 1st floor above ground offers a ▲VR experience center and a ▲toddler and children's zone connecting books and play, and the 2nd floor provides a ▲book caf? for users' relaxation.

The 3rd floor is a ▲digital media zone focused on providing a free and open space where users can bring personal devices such as laptops and tablets, with an LP listening corner and streaming service corner.

Floors 4 to 6 serve as general reading rooms, reorganizing collections according to user lifestyles with themes like ‘Forest of Reflection,’ ‘Discovery of Everyday Life,’ and ‘Space 休 (Rest),’ while the 7th floor is dedicated to facilities for information-vulnerable groups, including spaces exclusively for the disabled and a large-print corner for seniors.

A digital convenience system has also been established within the library, allowing residents who have made prior reservations via a smartphone app and received approval to use key spaces immediately on-site.

The library's operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 5 p.m. on weekends, with closures every Monday. However, the 1st-floor toddler and children's reading room operates only until 6 p.m. on weekdays.

As Dongjak-gu's representative library, the Kim Young-sam Library will oversee library policies and act as a control tower for public libraries, supporting the operation of hub libraries (▲Sadang Solbat Library, ▲Dongjak Children's Library, ▲Daebang Children's Library) and small public and private libraries in the district.

Meanwhile, the district plans to expand hub libraries in the Heukseok and Sindaebang areas, which currently lack public libraries, to provide life-centered public services by region.

The Heukseok-dong Library (340-1 Heukseok-dong) is a complex facility spanning basement level 2 to the 5th floor above ground, including a daycare center and indoor children's park. Construction began in January this year, with an opening scheduled for the second half of next year.

The Sindaebang Complex Library is being developed together with a public daycare center, aiming to open in the second half of 2022.

Changwoo Lee, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, stated, “The Dongjak-gu Kim Young-sam Library will establish itself as the district’s representative library, serving as the core of local reading culture and a communication and complex cultural facility connecting residents. We will continue to expand life SOC by region to create a livable city where all residents can enjoy cultural benefits.”