Culture meets calm: families, friends, and solo readers flock to Seoul’s open-air libraries for a new way to unwind.
When you think of a library, you probably picture hushed hallways, fluorescent lights, and endless rows of bookshelves. Seoul has flipped that image on its head, and people really just can’t get enough!
In just three months, the city’s outdoor library program drew more than a million visitors, turning iconic plazas and riversides into buzzing hubs of reading, lounging, and culture. It’s not just a library without walls; it’s a full-blown movement that’s redefining what public spaces can be.
What Even Is the Seoul Outdoor Library?
If you’re not familiar, here are the basics.
Seoul has, over the past few years, set up “building-less” libraries in popular public spaces. In 2025, that included Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square, and Cheonggyecheon Stream.
This year, it opened in spring and ran Fridays through Sundays, with occasional special events, too.
But it’s more than just piles of books out in the open. The Seoul Outdoor library consists of curated collections (over 12,000 new books added in 2025), comfy seating (beanbags, etc.), ambient lighting, furniture design, and zones for different moods (reading, relaxation, performances, etc.).
There’s even a “night-library” mode when summer evenings roll around, to avoid the heat and make reading under soft lighting part of the charm.
And then there’s the special extras. They’ve included book delivery (also known as their “quick” service), book storage (”keep” service), pop-up events, and even collabs with huge global partners like LEGO!
Let’s Talk Statistics
Here’s where it gets impressive. In just three months (the first run in spring and early summer 2025), the three outdoor libraries drew over 1 million visitors. This way exceeded what the city had anticipated.
But it’s not just that. When participants were asked about their experiences, it was revealed that 9.6% of their visitors were happy. Eighty-seven percent of guests read at least one book during their visit, and there was an overall excitement for the Seoul Outdoor Library’s continuation.
The library drew way more people out than expected, but then it kind of always has! Since its debut in 2022, the Seoul Outdoor Library has drawn over 6 million visitors.
One thing these statistics all show is that the Seoul Outdoor Library exceeded expectations in more than one way. Sure, it had lots of visitors, but it was more than just that. The satisfaction rate was extremely high for a public project, so much so that it’s almost unheard of. Likewise, the fact that 87% of visitors read a book shows that not only did 1 million people visit, but they were really engaging with the project. It was more than just a selfie opportunity to them. That’s hard to do in this day and age.
Why Is an Outdoor Library So Popular?
There are a great many things that have allowed the outdoor library to bring as many people together as it has. First and foremost, though, it has made reading accessible. Too often, people think of libraries as dusty, dank, too quiet, and for older people. The Seoul Outdoor Library flips that on its head.
Instead, it offers beanbags, beautiful scenery, soft lighting, and a chance to unwind. It appeals to people who would likely never dream of stepping foot inside a library.
But it’s more than that. The Seoul Outdoor Library made an effort to show that libraries aren’t just shelves of books. Just like many local libraries, the Seoul Outdoor Library hosted a range of events and collaborations, from the reading mobs, book clubs, and even LEGO events, there has been something for everyone. It’s shown that libraries aren’t just book storage, they’re cultural phenomena.
It’s also been a great way to get the general public to engage with their surroundings. When you live somewhere, it’s very easy to get kind of used to it. But with the Seoul Outdoor Library, it renewed the excitement in otherwise ordinary locations. It also made it super easy for people to get to. They passed by these places all the time anyway, so why not stop for a read?
On top of that, the Outdoor Library was adapted for seasonal needs and offered great things like storage and delivery, and it’s clear why so many people flocked to enjoy it!
What’s It Like?
Not all of us are locals, and it’s not always possible to hop on a flight to South Korea to enjoy a library. That leaves a lot of us wondering what exactly the Seoul Outdoor Library experience is like.
Well, imagine this. You’re walking through your city on the weekend, it’s buzzing like cities often are on the weekend, and then suddenly, you stumble into a pocket of calm. There are beanbags everywhere, low wooden tables with stacks upon stacks of books, kids sprawled across the grass with picture books, and couples reading side by side. A few meters away, there’s a little reading club lost in animated discussion.
As the sun dips, lanterns and soft lanterns are flicked on, and you can feel yourself shift into a slower pace of life. For just a moment, the rush of the city is behind you, and all you want to do is take a seat and open a book.
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Millie Ramm
Millie has been writing since she was a child, and has spent more time with her nose in books than anywhere else. She has been ghostwriting novels and editing for the past few years, and when not working she is curled up with her cats, looking for her next read.
