"Filling the Blanks of Everyday Life with Books"... Yongin City to Host 8th Book Festival on October 9

8th Book Festival to Be Held at Yongin City Hall Plaza
Author Book Talk, Performances, and Over 40 Experience Zones
Advance Book Talk Registration Opens on the Library Website on the 29th
Distribution Event for 8,000 Deaccessioned Books Also Planned

Yongin Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Sangil) announced on September 28 that it will hold the "8th Yongin Book Festival 2026" at the Yongin City Hall Plaza on October 9, in celebration of Hangeul Day.

Promotional poster for the 8th Buk Festival in Yongin Special City. Provided by Yongin City.

Held under the theme "A Reading Party Filling the Blanks of Everyday Life," this festival is designed so that people of all generations can share the joy of reading and experience a variety of library services.

Reflecting participants’ feedback, Yongin City has increased the number of rest areas and food options and significantly expanded the variety of hands-on programs.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the day of the event, City Hall Plaza will transform into an "outdoor library" that blends relaxation and reading in the city center. The site will feature a book tent zone (Indian and shade tents), booknic bundles (picnic baskets), a bean bag zone, mini bookcases, and photo booths, creating a free reading environment for citizens. Special book curation sessions will also be held, focusing on citizen-recommended life books, the "Book of the Year," and "K-Literature That Captivated the World."

The stage will host a wide array of performances and lectures. There will be a 2-hour in-depth conversation during the book talk with author Jeong Irip, on the topic "Even if we are different, we are neighbors." Performances will also include "I’m Busker" Kang Yeyoung and Recipe Note from the Yongin Cultural Foundation, along with a reading magic show titled "The Magician Who Reads Books - Magic Bookstore," aimed at promoting reading.

More than 40 experience zones will be operated by local public, small, and school libraries, bookstores, and partner organizations. The event will be packed with family-friendly activities such as family booknic and book tent sessions, a traditional games round, Green Library, Our Family’s Mind Recharge Zone, Library of Imagination and Space, Hangeul Headband Making for Hangeul Day, and Makerspace Robot Drawing Caricature. There will also be a tourism booth promoting the city using the city mascot "Joayong," local agricultural experiences, and a variety of food trucks providing culinary delights.

In particular, the "Book-Free" event, which will distribute about 8,000 deaccessioned books to citizens, is expected to receive a great response. Each citizen in need of books can receive up to five volumes for personal collection free of charge.

In addition, visitors can receive various gifts through a stamp tour, satisfaction survey certification, and festival promotion "eye event." Food trucks for citizens will also be operating at the venue.

Advance registration for participation in the book tent zone, booknic bundles, and book talk will open on September 29 at 10 a.m. through the Yongin City Library website, with on-site registration also available on the day of the event.

Meanwhile, the city is recruiting volunteers to support festival operations and maintain order through the "1365 Volunteer Portal" until October 5.

A Yongin City official said, "This year’s Book Festival has been upgraded so that families and friends can relax and enjoy themselves through books. We hope you join us for the city’s flagship Book Festival with your families and friends, enjoying books and a variety of programs, and rediscover the everyday joy of reading."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.