Gangnam Ilwon Study Room Remodeled After 35 Years...Reborn as a State-of-the-Art Learning Space

Reflecting Study Cafe Trends: Creating Diverse Learning Spaces and Transforming Facilities for All Ages

1st Floor Youth Hangout

Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) has remodeled the Gangnam Ilwon Reading Room (21 Gaepo-ro 116-gil) for the first time in 35 years, transforming it into a state-of-the-art study space reflecting residents' requests.

The Gangnam Ilwon Reading Room (formerly Ilwon Youth Reading Room) has been the only youth reading room in Gangnam since its opening in 1989 and has been consistently loved by district residents. However, due to severe facility aging, frequent leaks, and insufficient heating facilities, there were many inconveniences in use. Accordingly, the facility remodeling was designated as a pledge project of the 8th local government administration and the project was actively promoted.

Before the construction design, the district actively listened to users' opinions. Requests included the need for various study spaces such as open-type desks, multi-seat desks, and single-seat desks instead of the old partitioned desks, renovation of the old restrooms, and installation of various convenience facilities. Reflecting these opinions, basic facilities such as waterproofing and window replacement were reinforced, and various reading rooms, program rooms, and lounges were created. The construction period is from October 2023 to June 2024.

The total area is 1,137.6㎡ across basement floors 1 to 3. ▲ Basement 1 is a pleasant resting place (lounge) ▲ 1st floor consists of program rooms and the youth hangout Hudream ▲ 2nd floor includes reading rooms, laptop rooms, and program rooms ▲ 3rd floor has reading rooms and laptop rooms. The 2nd-floor reading room was designed as an open-type reading room reflecting the trend of preferring to study in open spaces such as study cafes. The windows surrounding the reading room offer a refreshing study environment with views of the nearby Daecheong Park’s greenery. The 3rd-floor reading room consists of partitioned desks, with single desks placed under the windows to provide diverse study spaces. Above all, the basement space has been completely transformed. The basement, which was previously unused and used as storage, has been converted into a lounge named “Pleasant Resting Place.” The lounge includes unmanned vending machines where visitors can enjoy brewed coffee and a space to cook ramen.

After remodeling, the facility name was changed from “Ilwon Youth Reading Room” by removing “Youth” to “Ilwon Reading Room,” allowing people of all ages to use it without hesitation. The reading room hours are from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (8 a.m. to 11 p.m. in winter), and the usage fee is 500 KRW for youth and 1,000 KRW for adults. Regular passes are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, with a monthly fee of 15,000 KRW for youth.

Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, stated, “We have reflected the diverse opinions of residents using the reading room to transform it into a place where anyone wants to come and study as well as a comfortable resting space,” adding, “We hope this new space open to everyone will become a place where dreams for the future are nurtured.”