A reading culture festival blending books, play, art and relaxation comes to Seocho-gu's book street Saturday, featuring a giveaway of 5,000 books including deaccessioned library titles and donations from a local publisher
Seocho-gu in Seoul will host the "Seocho Book Street October Book Camping" festival Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. along a 510-meter stretch of Banpo-daero running from the National Library of Korea to Saeraegol Park.
The book camping event is a reading culture festival designed to let visitors read books, enjoy a range of cultural and hands-on programs, and soak up the autumn atmosphere along city streets and in a park. Its multigenerational lineup is a particular draw: children's and family-oriented reading programs are paired with a book concert, live music performances and food stalls that cater to younger adults and other age groups, making it a festival for all generations.
The venue is divided into four zones — the National Library of Korea's staircase plaza, the Public Procurement Service parking lot, the book street corridor and Saeraegol Park — each offering its own distinct program lineup.
At the National Library of Korea's staircase plaza, performances and book-play activities for children and families will be on offer. A children's choir performance and a picture-book puppet show are among the scheduled acts, while a large-block play area called "Big Block Playground" and various book-play programs will also be available. Alongside this, a reading rest space called "Chaengmaru" for infants and toddlers will be set up so the whole family can spend time getting acquainted with books.
The Public Procurement Service parking lot will host the "Seoripul Reading Golden Bell," a quiz competition that has proven popular with children. This year, the number of showings has been expanded from one to two to give more children a chance to participate. The event is open to second- and third-graders and fourth- and fifth-graders at elementary school, with 130 participants per session for a total of 260. A "Family Cheering Board" will also be set up so families can cheer on their children on the scene.
Along the book street corridor, programs centered on sharing books and discovering new enjoyment will run throughout the day. The "Seoripul Book Market" will give away a total of 5,000 books free of charge to residents, including titles deaccessioned from Seocho-gu's public libraries and books donated by local publisher Lookbooks. The initiative aims to promote book recycling and spread the value of reading as a shared experience. Additional highlights include hands-on booths run by Seocho-gu's education support center and local partner organizations, as well as an "Art Salon Flea Market" on the book street.
Saeraegol Park will close out the festival with a special program blending books, music and relaxation. A book concert featuring author Kim Yeon-su and neuroscientist Jang Dong-sun will headline the park stage alongside live music performances, giving visitors a wide array of entertainment. A food market featuring popular culinary vendors, an outdoor reading space called "Book and Garden Plant Library" where greenery meets literature, and Seocho-gu's traveling library "Traveling Study" will also be on hand. Visitors can read in the autumn-hued park while enjoying music and food at their leisure.
Particularly notable about this year's book camping is the breadth of its programming — from book-play activities and the reading quiz competition for children and families, to a book concert and live music aimed at younger adults, to an outdoor reading rest area where anyone can unwind. The district plans to use the event as a platform to broaden intergenerational communication and exchange through books, and to help reading take root as a natural part of everyday life.
"I hope this book camping gives children a chance to run around, have fun and discover the joy of reading, while giving adults a moment to step away from their daily routines and enjoy the pleasures of books and rest," Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said. "Please come to Seocho Book Street with your family and friends, take in the autumn atmosphere, and enjoy everything that books have to offer."
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