Gangseo-gu in Seoul received 1,621 entries in a naming contest for the new library inside its integrated district office — "Magok Open Library" was chosen as the winner following a resident preference survey and panel review, with the library set to open in November.
Gangseo-gu in Seoul has selected "Magok Open Library" as the official name for the public library set to open in November inside the district's new integrated office building.
The district will unveil the library — spanning one below-ground floor and one above-ground floor, with a total floor area of 2,010 square meters — inside the integrated office building relocating to Magok in October, 49 years after the district office first opened. To build resident interest ahead of the opening, the district held a naming contest from Aug. 1 to Aug. 20.
The contest drew a total of 1,621 entries, reflecting strong public enthusiasm for the new library.
The district evaluated submissions on creativity, ease of use and appropriateness in a first-round departmental review, then narrowed the field to 10 finalists based on an online resident survey conducted from Aug. 26 to Sept. 10, in which 531 people participated.
A naming contest judging committee — composed of members including the Gangseo-gu Library Policy Council — then conducted a comprehensive evaluation covering whether the name captured the character of Gangseo-gu and the library's identity, its originality and distinctiveness from existing library names in the district, and how easy it was to understand and pronounce.
As a result, "Magok Open Library," which scored highest in both the resident preference survey and the judging committee's evaluation, was selected as the top winner.
The second-place prizes went to "Magok Chaengnarudoseogwan" and "Saedamdoseogwan," while "Magok Ondoseogwan," "Damseowhwamasildoseogwan" and "Meomureundoseogwan" received honorable mentions. Prize money awarded to winners is 300,000 won for first place, 200,000 won for second place and 100,000 won for honorable mention.
The Magok Open Library is designed to serve as a "multi-purpose cultural space" where residents of all generations can rest and share knowledge.
The library removes the barriers between the general reading room and the infant and children's sections to create an open, airy feel, and features a stepped lounge connecting the below-ground and above-ground floors where residents can linger freely. It will also be equipped with program rooms and club rooms to actively support spontaneous community interaction and group activities.
"The Magok Open Library will go beyond being a simple reading space to become Gangseo's signature multi-purpose cultural hub — a place where any resident can drop in, connect with others and take a break," District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon said. "We will make sure everything is ready in time for the integrated district office opening, so the library can take root as a warm cultural anchor that is part of residents' daily lives."
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