200 Korean-Language Books Donated by Nowon District
Now Available for Lending at Stuttgart Library
Featuring Works by 2024 Nobel Laureate Han Kang,
Including "Human Acts" and "I Do Not Bid Farewell"
The Korean-language books donated by Nowon District in Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seungrok) to the Stuttgart Library in Germany this past January are drawing attention, as they are expected to play a leading role in promoting K-culture locally in Germany.
The main highlight is the donation of about 200 Korean-language books, which was made as part of an official overseas training program conducted by the district in January to benchmark Europe’s carbon neutrality and advanced library policy cases. The Stuttgart Library, which Germany proudly boasts as one of the world’s seven most beautiful libraries, was designed by Korean architect Lee Eunyoung. The library features the word "library" inscribed in Hangul on its exterior wall, serving as a cultural point of connection with Korea.
During the visit, the district donated 200 carefully selected books from the Nowon-gu Public Library, including acclaimed works by Han Kang, winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, such as "Human Acts," "The Vegetarian," and "I Do Not Bid Farewell." This donation opened the door to mutual cooperation in reading culture and ongoing exchanges between the two institutions.
Recently, the Stuttgart Library announced on its website and through local media that it has launched a lending service for these books and is strengthening activities related to Korean literature. The library also informed the district of these developments. Furthermore, it revealed plans to utilize these books during the upcoming "Korean Hour" event, to be held in partnership with the German-Korean Society on November 23.
The donation at the time included not only works by Han Kang, but also "Summer Is Coming" by Lee Suzy, the first Korean recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, known as the "Nobel Prize for Children’s Literature." Other items included "Seolbim," a book introducing Korean culture through illustrations, as well as a tea set made at the Choaansan Ceramic Experience Center in Nowon and traditional Hanbok dolls. The diversity of books and cultural items is expected to contribute to the spread of Korean culture in the future.
The district stated that it is making multifaceted efforts to establish an advanced library system, including discussions with architect Lee Eunyoung, who designed the Stuttgart Library, on spatial design elements that should be incorporated into the "10-Minute Walk Library Infrastructure" project currently underway in the district.
Oh Seungrok, Mayor of Nowon District, said, "I was deeply impressed not only by the beautiful space of the Stuttgart Library but also by how the library serves as a central hub for community integration. We will continue to pursue exchanges with the Stuttgart Library in Germany to further the development of reading culture."
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