Mapo-gu to Hold 'Book Festival' at Library Plaza on the 24th

Outdoor Library with 1,000 Books, Plus Lectures and a Jazz Performance

Mapo-gu, Seoul (District Chief Yu Donggyun) announced on the 20th that it will transform the outdoor plaza of Mapo Central Library into a grassy "outdoor library" and hold the 2026 Mapo Book Festival on October 24 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., featuring lectures, performances and hands-on programs.

A scene from the Mapo Book Festival held last year at the outdoor plaza of Mapo Central Library. Provided by Mapo-gu.

With the theme "As Autumn Deepens, a Book-nic in the Library," the festival will bring together district-run libraries, local bookstores and speakers. The outdoor plaza will have around 100 seats and about 1,000 books.

Each library will also offer activities. Seogang Library and Purme Children's Library will run "Travel, Hooray! Follow Your Tastes, Follow the Books," featuring a travel-destination preference test and recommendations for related books. Small libraries will host an autumn picture-book exhibition, fallen-leaf bookmark-making, a calligraphy poetry exhibit and coloring activities, and a traditional book exhibition. Mapo and Kkumnarae Children's English Libraries will present "K-Story," with a Korean-heritage children's book author reading aloud. Seven local bookstores will also set up sales booths.

Two lectures are scheduled. At 11 a.m., Professor Kim Daesik will speak on "In the Age of AI, What Should Humans Learn and How Should We Live?" At 5 p.m., docent Lee Changyong will give a lecture titled "Comfort for Life in Color: Vincent van Gogh." At 3:30 p.m., "Jazz & Book" will feature performances of theme songs from Disney and Studio Ghibli animations, as well as jazz and popular songs. A lifelong learning showcase, where residents share what they have learned over the past year, will also be held.

After the festival, the outdoor library will move to the plaza at Mapo Art Center and operate there from October 25 to 27. The program will include a curated selection of webtoons, web novels and graphic novels, as well as a "Book-gazing Zone." Book talks are also planned with three authors, including Seo Ire, writer of the webtoon "Jeongnyeon." More information is available on the Mapo Central Library website.

District Chief Yu Donggyun said, "I hope everyone in the district will enjoy reading and the leisure of autumn at this festival, where books, music and learning come together." He added, "We will continue to create a range of opportunities for people to experience books and culture up close."

Provided by Mapo-gu.

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