Seoul's outdoor libraries passed 10 million visits before winter

Seoul's outdoor libraries have drawn more than 10 million visits since they opened in 2022. The Korea Times reported the tally on November 4, 2026. The city said this year's program brought about 1.87 million people to Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square, and Cheonggye Stream before the winter break began on November 1. The cumulative figure includes district-run and pop-up libraries, not only those three sites. The city said the libraries will reopen in April 2027.

A survey of 5,155 visitors found that 97 percent were satisfied, 97.4 percent intended to return, and 97.8 percent would recommend the program. About 90.3 percent said they had actually read books during the visit. The city also ran 13 library tours for international visitors, drawing applications from 377 people in 48 countries, and counted 383 outdoor library locations this year across Seoul and other regions. By late October it had lent book kits, books plus camping chairs, to 269 places, including day care centers, kindergartens, schools, and cultural sites. Hipdok Club, a public reading club in its second year, has 10,000 members. Min Su-hong, head of the city's Culture Headquarters, said the 10 million visits mean the outdoor library has become part of daily life, and that the city wants more places where people can read nearby. The numbers are visits and survey answers. They are not a measure of how many Seoul residents read every week.