"Books Trapped for 5 Years"... Gwangju Singa Library Neglected Due to Redevelopment Delays

Spared from Demolition, but No Reopening in Sight
Residents Demand "Alternative Space"

The site view of the redevelopment project area in Singadong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, visited on the 27th of last month. Photo by Kim Wanjung

The Singa Library, which was the only cultural space for residents of Singa-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, has been left neglected for five years due to delays in a redevelopment project.

According to Gwangsan-gu on the 16th, the Singa Library, located within the Singa-dong redevelopment zone, has remained closed since 2021, with no reopening date even scheduled. Although it was initially excluded from demolition and was planned to be used as a library even after redevelopment, the project delays have left it inaccessible and abandoned.

Currently, about 58,000 books remain in the library, and only some were transferred to other libraries in 2023. The longer the closure continues, the more the value and usability of the books decrease, and concerns about damage are growing.

The main issue is that the timing for restarting the redevelopment project is uncertain. The association is struggling to select a construction company, and the outlook for the project is unclear due to the downturn in the real estate market. Kim Myungsook, a Gwangsan-gu council member representing Singa-dong, pointed out, "There are no other public cultural facilities in Singa-dong besides the library, so residents are experiencing significant inconvenience."

As a countermeasure, Gwangsan-gu announced plans to install a 'smart library' with a collection of 300 books near the Singa-dong Administrative Welfare Center within this year. However, residents are demanding that active measures be taken to utilize the facility, criticizing the authorities for their "irresponsible attitude" in simply asking them to wait for the reopening.