Construction Underway at Namyang-dong Site with 23 Billion Won Investment
93% Complete... Scheduled to Open to Citizens After Completion in the First Half of Next Year
The long-awaited “Samcheok Miracle Library” project in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, is progressing smoothly, with completion scheduled for the first half of next year. Although construction was temporarily halted at one point due to the contractor’s financial difficulties, the city of Samcheok implemented proactive funding measures, bringing the project into its final stage.
According to Samcheok City on September 14, the city has been working on the construction of the “Miracle Library” at 113 Namyang-dong since 2020, investing a total of 23 billion won in the project. This multi-purpose cultural space, which will have one basement floor, three above-ground floors, and a total floor area of 3,456 square meters, is set to feature various amenities for residents, including a children’s reading area, nursing room, and a book cafe.
Currently, construction is reportedly on hold due to the contractor’s financial issues. However, with 93% of the work completed and the project nearing its end, Samcheok City plans to inject additional funds and implement other measures to resume the project and open the facility to citizens as soon as possible.
Although the project was delayed for about a year due to design changes caused by site conditions such as rock foundations, the strong commitment of the 8th popularly elected Samcheok administration has enabled the project to reach 93% completion, with the opening now just around the corner. Samcheok City stated that the current form of the library reflects the active collection of feedback from citizens and students.
In addition, Samcheok City currently operates two public libraries-Samcheok Dogye Library and Samcheok Wondeok Library-and directly or indirectly manages 16 small libraries. The city also plans to open a new “small library” for residents and students at the newly constructed Jeongra-dong Administrative Welfare Center.
Notably, the Samcheok Wondeok Library, which opened last year in Hosan-ri, Wondeok-eup, was built after the city demolished the old, aging library and invested approximately 7.7 billion won to provide new amenities such as a shared childcare center. These upgrades have been very well received by the local community.
Furthermore, to foster a “city of readers” and a “city ideal for raising children,” Samcheok City annually provides 20 million won to the Samcheok Education and Culture Center, a direct affiliate of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education, to support book purchases. Since last year, the city has also been distributing “book packages” to infants and toddlers, leading efforts to promote a culture of reading.
A Samcheok City official stated, “Although construction on the Samcheok Miracle Library began in 2020, it was delayed for a year due to design changes caused by site conditions such as rock foundations. However, as this was a long-cherished wish of Samcheok citizens and students, we incorporated a wide range of feedback to shape the project as it is today. Since the launch of the 8th popularly elected Samcheok administration, we have accelerated the project, aiming for completion in the first half of next year, and will do our utmost to open the library to citizens as soon as possible.”
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