Goyang Mayor Min Kyungseon: "Learn AI and Robotics at the Library, Nurture Future Talent"

Daehwa Library expands advanced technology education, including drones and 3D printing
2,598 sessions held since 2019, with 23,785 participants to date
Recertified as a Kkumgil career-experience institution for elementary and middle school students;

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province is expanding artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and 3D printing education at Daehwa Library. The city aims to develop talent for future industries by adding digital creation and technology experiences to a library traditionally focused on reading.

Min Kyungseon, mayor of Goyang. Provided by Goyang City.

Daehwa Library is the first library in northern Gyeonggi Province specializing in future industries. It supports creative activities by residents through facilities including a collaborative workspace called the "Makerspace," a future industries creation lab and a media production studio.

The Makerspace on the library's first floor is equipped with 3D printers, laser processing machines and other production equipment. It is a space where residents can turn ideas into prototypes, share equipment and collaborate. It has developed into a community space for makers since 2018, and in 2024 was selected by the National Library of Korea as a model case for operating a Makerspace.

The second floor has been renovated, transforming the former webtoon story creation room into a future industries creation lab and a media production studio. The basement houses a book cafe, club rooms and an exhibition space featuring books related to future industries.

Advanced technology classes are held every month at the Makerspace and the fourth-floor classroom. Topics include using 3D printers, flying drones, robot soccer, AI dubbing and coding. From 2019 through 2026, the library has held 2,598 related programs, with a cumulative total of 23,785 participants.

This year, the library has added equipment, including high-speed 3D printers, and expanded its hands-on programs. In November, it will offer programs such as "Making Christmas Ornaments with a 3D Printer," "Making an AI Winter Game" and "Santa's Gift Delivery Mission! Hamster Robot Coding." More details are available on the Goyang City Library Center website.

Goyang Goyangi visits the "Makerspace" at Daehwa Library. Courtesy of Goyang City.

At the "2026 Maker & Book Festival," held during summer vacation, participants took part in activities involving AI autonomous driving, Gomoku, mBot robot soccer and stone seal carving. Since 2023, the library has also offered book recommendations, reading quizzes and exhibition content through a metaverse platform.

The library is also expanding career education for teenagers. Daehwa Library was recertified by the Ministry of Education as a certified career experience institution for educational donations last year, following its initial certification in 2022. It offers local elementary and middle school students the opportunity to experience work as 3D printer operators. In the first half of this year, it held a total of 10 programs in collaboration with Kkumgil career experiences and lifelong education, drawing 408 participants.

The library plans to introduce classes that integrate the process of designing and printing 3D models using AI. After being selected this year by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as an operator of its "AI Immersive Creative Reading Program," it will also launch programs for children and teenagers that combine reading and AI.

Goyang City plans to expand career experiences into regular programs in connection with "Onmaeul Happy School," its lifelong education initiative. It will also pursue joint projects with the Goyang Industry Promotion Agency, Goyang Children's Museum, Korea Aerospace University and Jungbu University, among others.

Future Industry Creative Convergence Program Specializing in Emerging Industries (Humanoid Robot Experience). Provided by Goyang City.

At the Goyang Special Citizens' Day event on October 3, Mayor Min identified aerospace, medical and biotechnology, and culture and content as Goyang's three core industries, and named training talent in these fields and creating quality jobs as key priorities for city administration.

Goyang Mayor Min Kyungseon said, "Libraries are more than places to read books; they are a cradle for learning advanced technologies and nurturing imagination. We will strengthen the foundation for advanced industry education and focus on developing the future talent who will lead Goyang."

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