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Songpa Book Museum, situated in eastern Seoul, is an establishment dedicated to reading.
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The museum, which opened in 2019, is the first public book museum in Korea.
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At the museum, visitors can learn more about the practice of reading through various exhibitions. Some exhibitions explain how Korean ancestors read books during the Joseon era (1392-1910) or during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945).
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It also has a vast reading space for those who want to indulge in books.
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The basement contains storage for antique books. Visitors, separated by a glass barrier, can see how centuries-old publications are preserved and managed.
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A children-friendly institution, the museum is complete with a separate studio dedicated to kids called Bookium. At Bookium, toddlers and children can enjoy books and related hands-on experiences. The space, inspired by well-known fairy tales such as “Snow White” and “Hansel and Gretel,” allows children to feel as if they are in the stories themselves.
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Aspiring to be a reading hub, Songpa Book Museum also holds lectures by big name poets and writers.
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The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Photo by Park Hyun-koo
Written by Im Eun-byel