Seongbuk-gu Selects the '2025 Book of the Year'

Three Books Selected, Including an Essay by Cho Seungri and a Work by Choi Taehyun

Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Lee Seungro), announced on the 4th that it held the '2025 Seongbuk-gu Book of the Year Proclamation Ceremony' on November 2 at the Baram Madang area of the Seongbuk-gu Office.

This event was held outdoors for the first time in six years since COVID-19, alongside the 'Bookmokkoji' festival, and received an enthusiastic response as an open reading festival enjoyed by the entire local community beyond the boundaries of the library.

Seongbuk-gu Selects the '2025 Book of the Year'

Seongbuk Book Festival Main Event 'Seongbuk-gu One Book Proclamation Ceremony' Awardees and Winners Commemorative Photo (from left: Literature, Children, Non-fiction). Provided by Seongbuk-gu.

The proclamation ceremony operated as a resident-participatory reading culture platform, with various stakeholders including Seongbuk-gu Public Libraries, related local library organizations, local universities, and local shops participating. In particular, the 'One Book Promotion Group,' which consists of Seongbuk-gu residents, exceeded 4,000 members, and a total of 8,282 residents participated in the Book of the Year vote, demonstrating a high level of reading enthusiasm.

The Book of the Year in the literature category, which received the most support from residents, was 'This Mess Will Pile Up and Become a Festival' by author Cho Seungri. This essay, which captures the author's perspective of affirming life in their own way despite an imperfect and chaotic daily existence, resonated with readers as "the story of all of us who endure and move forward in life."

In the non-fiction category, 'Declaration of the Altruist' by author Choi Taehyun was selected. This book explores the meaning of 'altruism,' which regards the happiness of others as one's own, from both philosophical and practical perspectives, reminding readers of the value of community.

In the children's category, 'The Determined Cat,' written by Kang Kyungho and illustrated by Dana, was chosen. This work, which delightfully conveys the value of challenge and courage, was selected by a direct vote of Seongbuk-gu's children.

The selected authors will visit Seongbuk-gu this December to communicate with residents through the 'Meet the Author' program. Seongbuk-gu stated, "We will continue to promote the value of 'Reading Seongbuk,' where generations and neighbors are connected through a single book," and announced plans to further vitalize a reading culture in daily life.

Lee Seungro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, "The true strength of Seongbuk lies in the entire community reading and empathizing together, beyond just the library," and added, "We will continue to actively support a reading community led by residents."