The 2,010-square-meter AI-focused library features VR experiences, resident lounges and club rooms; a nearby clinic donated 45 pieces of furniture worth 30 million won; space names chosen through public contest
Seoul's Gangseo-gu will officially open the Gangseo District Magok Open Library, a public library inside the Magok integrated district office complex, on Saturday.
The library is designed as an open cultural space where residents can freely read, relax and connect. Built to coincide with the opening of the Gangseo-gu integrated district office, it spans 2,010 square meters across one below-ground and one above-ground floor.
Reflecting the district's proximity to the Magok research and development complex, the library will operate as an AI-focused facility. In addition to reading areas, it offers resident program rooms, club rooms, a lounge and a virtual reality experience space.
Resident participation shaped the library from the start. Not only the library's name but also the names of its individual spaces — program rooms Magok Chaeknaru, Saedam and Magok Onsil, and club rooms Damseowhama and Meomureum — were chosen through a public naming contest.
The library began a soft opening on Tuesday, offering book-browsing services and accepting new member registrations.
Community generosity also contributed to the opening. Annyeong Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, located near the integrated district office, donated 45 pieces of furniture worth 30 million won ($22,300) to create a comfortable reading environment for residents. The items include lounge chairs, children's chairs and sofa tables.
In recognition of the donation, Gangseo-gu set up a dedicated "Annyeong ENT Donation Bookshelf" on the library's basement floor, along with a commemorative plaque.
The opening ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday and will include a progress report on the library's development, a donation handover ceremony, a lucky draw and a sensory classical music performance.
Starting at 11 a.m. that day, resident participation events will also be available, including sentence transcription from books, drawing favorite book covers, making keyrings and an "aquarium coloring" experience using VR.
"The Magok Open Library will be more than a place to read — it will be a signature cultural retreat where residents can communicate freely and rest alongside books," Gangseo-gu District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon said. "This library opened thanks to residents' participation and the warm hearts of the community, and I hope many people will come and enjoy everything it has to offer."
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