High Satisfaction with Unique Book Culture Programs in Gimpo
Citizen-Driven Events Like Book Festivals Expand Reading Culture
Anticipation Builds for Gimpo's "Korea Reading Festival" in September
Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province, which has been selected as the host of the "2025 Korea Reading Festival," is drawing anticipation for the main event in September by achieving high participant satisfaction through a variety of programs, including a library book festival, "Evening with Books," and special lectures by prominent figures.
Various preliminary events are being held at libraries in celebration of the 2025 Reading Festival. Photo by Gimpo City
Prior to the main event in September, Gimpo City is running various programs aimed at encouraging non-readers and potential readers to become active readers. Notably, the opening of Modam Library, which will serve as Gimpo City’s central library, took place in May, and the city also held its library book festival, which attracted over 7,300 attendees on that day alone.
The event featured unique programs such as a segment presenting library etiquette through episodes, and hands-on experiences led by four different authors on diverse topics and in various formats. Additionally, citizens themselves ran experience booths as key participants in the festival, breaking down boundaries and receiving an enthusiastic response from attendees.
The "Evening with Books" event held in June at Taesan Family Park was also highly popular among citizens. With around 2,000 participants, the event included programs such as "Anywhere Library," where people could enjoy reading on beanbags and in teepees, as well as a reading quiz contest, all of which were well-received by families and created a strong sense of engagement.
The "Refresh Special Lectures," which invited experts from various fields to local libraries, also became a major highlight. The city invited experts such as comedians Ko Myunghwan and Kim Youngchul, as well as counseling psychologist Professor Lee Hosun, to deliver special lectures on the importance of reading and its positive impact on life, allowing citizens to reflect on the significance of books together.
This growing atmosphere of reading culture is expected to reach its peak at the main event in September. The main event, which is the highlight of the "2025 Korea Reading Festival Gimpo" and will be held from September 19 to September 21, is set to be the largest book festival in the country. The festival will feature performances by famous singers such as Yang Hee-eun, Lee Mujin, and 21Hakbeon, who are also ambassadors for the festival, as well as book talks with bestselling authors like Cheon Seonran of "Cheon Gaeui Parang," Jeong Youjeong of "Jongui Giwon," and Sohn Wonpyung of "Almond." Additional programs include puppet shows by picture book artists and a wide variety of other engaging activities.
The event will take place around Gimpo Hangang Central Park and will include a book fair, more than 120 booths offering book-related experiences, goods, and attractions, as well as educational opportunities. In particular, the city plans to distribute event vouchers during the festival period based on the number of stamps collected using the "Reading Citizen Card," which has been distributed throughout 2025.
Before the main event, Gimpo City will launch an initiative starting in July called "Event for Those Who Have Drifted Away from Books" to help even non-readers rediscover the joy of reading.
This event is open to Gimpo citizens who have not borrowed a book from the library in the past year. From July 20 to September 20, 2025, anyone who borrows a book from a library will be automatically entered into a drawing. Gimpo City will randomly select 1,000 participants to receive a cafe gift voucher at the end of September, which is also Reading Month. New library members who join during this period will also be automatically entered.
Kim Byungsoo, Mayor of Gimpo, stated, "Through the Korea Reading Festival, Gimpo will emerge as the center of Korea's reading culture, sharing knowledge and wisdom. Gimpo City will contribute to building a new book culture with innovative approaches, so that the reading movement that begins here becomes an opportunity for all Koreans to become reading citizens."
An official from the Gimpo City Library added, "We have put in a great deal of effort to host the Korea Reading Festival in Gimpo, and all our staff are working to ensure a successful and memorable event. We hope that people across Korea, especially Gimpo citizens, will recognize the necessity and joy of reading, and we invite everyone to participate in the diverse programs offered at our libraries."
Information about all programs and events for the "2025 Korea Reading Festival Gimpo" is available on the Gimpo City Library website, the Korea Reading Festival website, the 2025 Korea Reading Festival Gimpo Instagram, the Gimpo City blog, and press releases. In particular, the Korea Reading Festival website offers a calendar view of all scheduled programs through the end of this year.
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