Korea Reading Festival: Over 10,000 Events Nationwide

Unique Reading Events Nationwide for September Reading Month
Main Event of the Korea Reading Festival to Be Held in Gimpo
22 Reading Culture Awards to Be Presented

To celebrate "Reading Month" in September, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will host over 10,000 reading culture events in partnership with 1,065 organizations, groups, and companies.

Unique Reading Culture Events Nationwide, From Outdoor Libraries to Book-Themed Activities

In honor of Reading Month in September, libraries across the country, 17 local governments, and education offices will hold a variety of book-related experiences under the slogan "Reading Forecast: Reading Today, Clear Tomorrow." These include ▲outdoor libraries (Seoul, Ulsan, Gyeongnam), ▲Book Alley Reading Adventures (Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education), and Book Bingo Challenges (Jeonbuk Office of Education), as well as various programs such as lectures, exhibitions, and book markets.

The National Library of Korea will host a special event, "Meeting with Author Jeong Youjeong," to mark Reading Month. The National Library for Children and Young Adults will run the "Read to Me" campaign in partnership with Inje Miracle Library, while the National Library of Sejong will offer special lectures and exhibitions under the theme "K-Picture Books Going Global." In the Daehak-ro area of Seoul and at local literature museums, events such as the "Korea Literature Festival," "Seoul International Writers' Festival," and "Literature Week" will take place.

Five private companies, including online and offline bookstores and civic organizations, will also participate in the "Reading Month in September" events. Kyobo Bookstore will host an event to help readers discover their reading type, Yes24 will hold a book talk with author Bernard Werber, and Willa will provide commemorative goods through a reading participation challenge. The Korea Federation of Bookstore Associations will take part in the "Bucheon Book Festival" on the 13th, promoting its Seojeom ON and Reservation Dream services and giving away books.

More details about the "Reading Month in September" events can be found on the Reading Information website "Dokseoin."

Main Event of the "2025 Korea Reading Festival" to Be Held in Gimpo... Reading Culture Awards to Be Presented

The main event of the "2025 Korea Reading Festival" will take place from September 19 to 21 at Janggi Library and Gimpo Hangang Central Park in Gimpo, which has been selected as this year's "Book City of Korea." Under the theme "Refresh with Books," the nation's largest book culture festival will feature reading camps utilizing waterfront environments, lectures, exhibitions, performances, and hands-on activities. Regional reading festivals will also be held in Buk-gu, Busan; Jeonju, Jeonbuk; and Pohang, Gyeongbuk.

Detailed information on the "Korea Reading Festival" program schedule and how to participate is available on the official website.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will present a total of 22 Reading Culture Awards to individuals and organizations that have contributed to the promotion of reading culture at the opening ceremony of the main event of the "2025 Korea Reading Festival" on September 19. This year's Presidential Commendation will be awarded to Jeong Byeonggyu, CEO of Odaesan Donghwa Nara, who has operated a children's specialty bookstore for 30 years, worked as a picture book researcher, and contributed to the development of children's book culture and neighborhood bookstores. The Prime Minister's Commendation will be presented to Song Heejeong, a cultural and arts educator at Udo Small Library, for expanding local residents' participation in reading activities by hosting book festivals and planning the "Udo Residents' Life School" in Udo, Jeju, and to Lee Jeongsu, Secretary General of the Korean Library Association, for implementing various reading promotion policies such as "Seoul Book Bogo" and revitalizing the book culture ecosystem at libraries. The Minister's Commendation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will be awarded to Kim Youngim, librarian at Busan Metropolitan Library, Geumsan Darakwon, and 19 other individuals and organizations.

Im Seonghwan, Director of Media Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "Books not only help us grow and heal our minds, but are also the source of 'K-Content' that is attracting global attention. Especially this year, to celebrate Reading Month in September, we have prepared various programs so that everyone in the nation can enjoy reading together both online and offline. The Ministry will continue to actively support the expansion of reading values and the revitalization of the publishing ecosystem in close cooperation with the field."