WEBZINE KOREA_September 2026

September 2026

A New Kind of Place:
Libraries

This September’s cover story is about libraries.
If you’ve always thought of libraries as quiet,
old-fashioned places, this issue may change your mind.
Korea’s libraries—each with its own function
and charm—offer a fresh perspective.
The cover features an AI-generated video created from
a photograph of Starfield Library Suwon in Suwon,
Gyeonggi-do Province.

Libraries are becoming new centers of
Korean lifestyle, places where people
and culture meet to foster learning,
connection and the experiences
that shape everyday lives.

A New Era of Libraries

Cover Story 1

At some point, Korea’s libraries turned into something else entirely. Moving beyond their traditional role as places for study and reading, they are evolving into multipurpose cultural spaces that draw people in search of experience and rest. Visitors now come through library doors not just for books but for all kinds of content, and libraries have become spaces where the humanities and arts thrive—sanctuaries where people can recharge amid the pace of daily life. Books now bring together people and knowledge, culture and technology, as Korea’s libraries undergo a remarkable transformation.

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Cover Story 2

The Forest of Books Where Your Identity Grows

Hwangbo Yu-mi

Director of Sojeonseolim

Tucked into a residential Seoul neighborhood is Sojeonseolim, a space built purely for literature. Its name means “a forest of books surrounded by white bricks,” reflecting the space’s distinctive character. Launched in 2020 by the Sojeon Cultural Foundation, it initially sparked skepticism as Korea’s first “paid library.” Six years later, it stands as a celebrated success story—offering a deeply curated collection, rich cultural programs and vital support for writers. Every corner is refined in service of books, as Sojeonseolim continues to inspire a new, thriving reading culture in Korea.

Beyond the Walls:
A Library Reimagined

Oh Ji-eun

Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Library

From spring through autumn, the heart of Seoul transforms as citizens gather under open skies, on green lawns and along Cheonggyecheon Stream—all absorbed in books. At the center of this scene is the “Seoul Outdoor Library.” In an age dominated by digital technology, a library that broke down its walls has breathed new life into reading culture, revealing unexpected possibilities. Driving this transformation is Oh Ji-eun, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Library.

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Cover Story 3

A Journey Through Pages and Life
Ulsan

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As the intense summer heat begins to fade and the afternoon breeze turns pleasantly cool, Korea’s outdoor scene grows even livelier. Families and couples head out for relaxing camping trips, while university clubs and groups gather at countryside pensions for a weekend of bonding. And no gathering with loved ones is complete without a dish that never fails to satisfy: budaejjigae (sausage stew). Piled high with ham, sausage and kimchi, then simmered into a rich, bubbling broth, this irresistible dish was even crowned the most popular menu item on the hit Netflix variety show “Jae-seok’s B&B Rules!,” where guests step away from daily life to share food and conversation.

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Food on Screen

Everyone, One Pot
Budaejjigae

Local Escape

A City Like a Movie
Busan

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Tal: Faces at Play
Museum am Rothenbaum World Cultures and Arts

Heritage Abroad

Visitors to the Museum am Rothenbaum World Cultures and Arts in Hamburg (MARKK), Germany, can get a glimpse of the faces that once filled the courtyards of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) through traditional Korean masks known as tal. Bound by the rigid hierarchies and social conventions of Joseon society, ordinary people found liberation the moment they put on a mask. Hidden behind them, they could fearlessly expose the hypocrisy of the ruling class and turn life’s absurdities into laughter and satire. These mask dances, known as talchum, were a vital expression of heung, the enduring Korean spirit that finds joy, play and celebration even amid hardship.

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Korea Forward