2023 Seongbuk-gu Book of the Year?

Seongbuk Residents Directly Vote to Select Seongbuk's One Book... Literature 'Abeojiui Haebangilji', Children 'Anican', Non-fiction 'Aging Solo'... Lee Seung-ro, District Mayor, Announces at One Book Declaration Ceremony with Diverse Generations from Children to Seniors

Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) announced the Book of the Year for Seongbuk-gu on the 17th. Now in its 13th year, the ‘Seongbuk-gu One Book Reading’ program has garnered much attention by providing a space where residents can discuss and share stories together through the process of selecting one book each year, respecting and understanding each other's diversity.

The Books of the Year for Seongbuk-gu, selected directly by residents, are ▲ 『Father’s Liberation Diary』 (Literature) by author Jeong Ji-a, ▲ 『Annie Can』 (Children’s) by author Eun Kyung, and ▲ 『Aging Solo』 (Non-fiction) by author Kim Hee-kyung, totaling three books.

The announcement ceremony for this year’s books was held at Kkumbit Theater, filled with around 300 attendees. The Seongbuk-gu One Book Promotion Team, as well as related organizations such as schools, small libraries, and Saemaeul Libraries that participated to promote reading culture in Seongbuk-gu this year, along with the authors, editors, and publishing representatives of the Books of the Year, all gathered to brighten the event.

Every year, Seongbuk-gu One Book has selected one literary book and one children’s book. To expand the scope of the One Book reading movement, this year, in collaboration with ‘Geumeum’ (an online reading platform), a non-fiction book was selected for the first time.

Notably, all three Books of the Year share themes of ‘living together’ and ‘solidarity,’ posing ongoing questions to us living in the present day.

Following the announcement ceremony, meetings with the authors of the three Books of the Year will be held starting in December, with schedules and locations announced on the Seongbuk-gu Public Library website. The Seongbuk-gu Public Library will continue to serve as the center of local reading culture, creating spaces where residents can read, experience, and discuss books together.