The Largest Reading Culture Festival in Korea: 2025 Korea Reading Festival
To Be Held at Gimpo Hangang Central Park, Laveniche, and Janggi Library from September 19 to 21
First-Ever Digitalization of the Festival and Introduction of Book Fair Vouchers Draw Attention
The 'Korea Reading Festival,' the largest reading culture festival in the country, will be held simultaneously at Gimpo Hangang Central Park & Laveniche and Janggi Library for three days from September 19 to 21. The event will run from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM on the 19th, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on the 20th, and from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the 21st.
The 2025 Korea Reading Festival is hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which annually selects a local government that leads the promotion of reading culture to serve as the host city. This year, Gimpo City has been chosen as the 12th City of Books.
With the slogan "Refresh with Books" and the goal of "A New Wave in Korea's Reading Culture," the 2025 Korea Reading Festival aims to make reading recognized as an enjoyable activity, providing an opportunity for many people to rediscover the joy of reading.
Notably, this is the first time in the country that the Reading Festival has been digitalized, transforming it from a one-time event into a sustainable catalyst for the continued spread of reading culture. The introduction of a book fair voucher for the first time is also noteworthy, as it is expected to invigorate the publishing ecosystem and improve citizens' access to reading.
Following the official ceremony on the 19th, the festival will feature lectures and book talks by renowned authors, as well as a book market with publishers from across the country. A total of 160 programs are prepared, including 110 booths, performances, academic discussions, debates, events, special experiences, and exhibitions.
On the first day of the main event, September 19, the festival will kick off with a book talk by author Cheon Seonran of "A Thousand Blues," followed by the opening ceremony and a congratulatory performance by Yang Heeeun, the festival's ambassador. On the 20th, highlights will include the finals of the Biblio Battle, a book review competition; a book talk with Kim Hoyoun, author of "The Uncomfortable Convenience Store"; a lecture by Kim Aeran, author of "You Said Goodbye"; a book talk with Jeong Yujeong, author of "The Origin of Species"; and congratulatory performances by singers Lee Mujin and 21Hakbeon.
On the last day, September 21, the event will conclude with the Reading Golden Bell quiz, a book talk with Son Wonpyung, author of "Almond," a meeting with Hong Minjeong, author of "The Cat Problem Solver Kkamnyang," and a finale performance.
The festival also offers a variety of lectures and hands-on activities with local authors and picture book writers. Over 90 publishing houses from around the country, as well as related organizations, will participate in the book fair and the festival.
To ensure a safe and well-organized event, advance reservations for lectures and performances will be accepted through the Gimpo City integrated reservation website over three days, from September 10 to 12.
On September 10, reservations will open for the opening ceremony and various performances. On September 11, reservations will be accepted for programs featuring Cheon Seonran, Kim Hoyoun, Kim Aeran, Jeong Yujeong, Son Wonpyung, Hong Minjeong, and the Reading Golden Bell. On September 12, reservations will be accepted for local authors, picture book writers, and other programs until capacity is reached (final registration closes on September 16).
For the congratulatory performances on September 20 (featuring Lee Mujin, 21Hakbeon, and others), advance applications will be accepted from September 10 to September 14 due to safety and order considerations, and 400 seats will be randomly allocated by lottery.
Mayor Kim Byungsoo stated, "This Reading Festival was planned with the question of where creativity, humanity's greatest competitive edge in the AI era, originates. We have worked hard to shift perceptions about reading so that many people can recognize the importance of the written word, and we have conducted a variety of preliminary events in different formats. As the City of Books, Gimpo is striving to ensure that all citizens of Korea can become readers, sharing the abundance of knowledge and wisdom. With this main event, Gimpo will establish itself as the center of Korea's reading culture."
For more information about the main events of the Korea Reading Festival, please visit the 2025 Korea Reading Festival website or the Gimpo City Reading Festival Instagram account.
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