Gumi City to Host '2025 Gumi Reading Culture Festival'... Blossoming Through Culture

To Be Held on October 18-19 at City Central Library and Hyeonggok Neighborhood Park
Rich Program Includes Book Talks, Book Market, Special Exhibitions, Experience Booths, and Outdoor Performances

Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province will host the '2025 Gumi Reading Culture Festival' on October 18 and 19 at the City Central Library and its surrounding area.

With the theme of "Expanding Books," the festival's main programs include author book talks, a book market, hands-on activities and special exhibitions, a reading camping zone, a forest playground, a flea market, and busking performances. The event will bring together libraries, local bookstores, independent publishers, small business owners from the region, and the Gumi branch of the Saemaeul Library Association to create a vibrant space for reading culture.

'2025 Gumi Reading Culture Festival' Poster / Provided by Gumi City Hall

On the first day, novelist Choi Jinyoung and musician Kang Asol, along with authors Kim Yeonsu and Pyun Hye-young-who explored the expansion of books through their "Music Novel Collection"-will hold a book talk session.

Author Kim Geumhee will lead discussions centered around her works "The Great Greenhouse Repair Report," "My Polar Journal," and the audiobook "First Summer, Wanju."

On the second day, musician and longtime bookstore owner Yozoh will engage in a conversation with actor Park Jungmin, discussing the expansion of books from the perspectives of publisher, bookseller, and author.

Creators Kang Asol, Kim Mok-in, and Sung Jinhwan will share their stories about connecting and expanding the worlds of books and music.

The book market will feature 26 unique bookstores and publishers from across the country, presenting a variety of independent publications and goods that reinterpret mainstream books, travel, psychology, and everyday life from diverse perspectives. This "text-hip" atmosphere is expected to attract participation from the younger generation.

The festival also offers a wide range of hands-on and exhibition programs.

There will be over 30 experience booths, including book art, custom notebooks, perfume, and bookmark making, as well as exhibitions such as "50 Selected Pop-up Books from Around the World," a participating authors' book fair, and a local authors' book fair, providing plenty to see and enjoy.

Additionally, the outdoor park will feature a reading camping zone decorated with bean bags, hammocks, and Indian tents, a forest playground, a flea market run by local small businesses, table puppet shows, bubble performances, and live band busking, offering a rich and diverse cultural experience.