Gwangju Nam-gu Office Book Cafe Night Users 'Bustling Bustling'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] As the Nam-gu Office Book Cafe in Gwangju Metropolitan City marks its first anniversary, it is receiving great love as a meeting and learning space for local residents.

In particular, by extending the book cafe's opening hours from 6 PM to 10 PM, the number of students and office workers visiting for personal study and group study continues to steadily increase.

According to Nam-gu on the 3rd, the Nam-gu Office Book Cafe has become a beloved community space since opening on January 25, 2022.

The 12-tier bookshelf, about 5 meters high, installed in the book cafe is filled with 9,544 books donated by local residents and district office officials. Additionally, three meeting rooms, tables, chairs, sofas, and various convenience facilities are arranged throughout to help residents use the space comfortably.

Notably, the number of residents using the Nam-gu Office Book Cafe at night from 6 PM to 10 PM has been increasing over time.

From May to December last year, when nighttime usage statistics began, 2,366 residents visited the cafe over eight months.

Monthly figures show 223 in May, 211 in June, 311 in July, 288 in August, 339 in September, 244 in October, 353 in November, and 397 in December.

On average, about 296 residents use the Nam-gu Office Book Cafe at night each month, and as news of the nighttime opening spreads, the number of users continues to grow steadily.

Additionally, one 7-person meeting room and two 10-person meeting rooms have established themselves as spaces for group study.

This year, Nam-gu plans to create a Kids Friendly Zone for book cafe users by stocking children's books and installing cushion mats on the floor to provide better civil service.

Kim Byung-nae, the district mayor, explained, “Many residents visit the book cafe with their children, and middle and high school students, university students, and office workers after work consistently enjoy coming here for reasons such as obtaining certifications and preparing for exams.”