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[Korean Libraries with Themes ②]

Uijeongbu Music Library

Harmony of Black Music Created by the Collaboration of Music, Books, and Space

 

2022.07.04

 

One of the positive changes brought by the stronger influence of local governments is that the unique cultures of each region are becoming more independent. Small cities have been making good progress in this regard. For example, Uijeongbu, well-known as a city where US troops are stationed, has spread relevant cultures. Among all, Uijeongbu has become a leading region, a mecca for so-called black music, such as jazz, R&B, and blues that the US soldiers enjoyed. Using this characteristic, Uijeongbu City opened a music library in June 2021. While it is unique that the library is themed under “music,” the thing that it is based on black music makes the library more unique, as similar libraries would mainly cover classical music. Let’s take a walk through Uijeongbu Music Library, where you can enjoy the lively rhythms of black music with all your five senses.

 

 

The Birth of an Exotic Cultural Space Where Books and Music Meet

 

Built to reflect the cultural characteristics of the Uijeongbu area, Uijeongbu Music Library chose black music as its specialized genre among various music genres. The concept came from the influence of the US military base stationed in the city and the black music culture created within with the motif of hip-hop such as Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae. Black music refers to all genres of music, such as jazz, blues, gospel, soul, R&B, and hip-hop, which have been the source of Western popular music since the 20th century. Uijeongbu Music Library, which particularly specializes in the music field, is a cultural complex that has absorbed and developed the cultural contents of the region.

 

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Opening ceremony – Music Association (left) and Uijeongbu Civic Chorus (right)

 

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Graffiti drawn along the stairway inside the Uijeongbu Music Library

 

 

Uijeongbu Music Library, a library specialized in music combining music, books, and space, has excellent accessibility as it is located in Jangam Neighborhood Park, a resting place for Uijeongbu citizens. This is so that all citizens can conveniently visit and use the space and enjoy it at any time. Just like its name, the library lets its visitors enjoy the music and books at the same time while embracing the region’s unique culture. It organized the first floor as a space for families, displaying books for both adults and children, emphasizing the role of a public library. On the second floor, you can find poetries and classical literature to cultivate your cultural background, as well as musical scores of various genres for music professionals and amateurs. On the third floor, there are CDs, LPs, and DVDs of various music genres, as well as CD players and turntables for visitors to listen to music.
Above all, the part that best represents the identity of Uijeongbu Music Library is the audio room equipped with a high-end audio system for groups to appreciate and the music hall for performances and screenings. The best examples are Studio A, a room for professionals or citizens with musical talents to realize their dreams by trying out a composition program on the computer, and Studio B, a piano practice room. Such a spatial organization has turned Uijeongbu Music Library into a space where books and music become one, and a cultural complex where any citizen is welcome to enjoy experience programs under the theme of music.

 

A Deep Resonation Created by Abundant Materials and Programs on Music

 

As Uijeongbu Music Library has become a differentiated, professional area for music, it has put extra effort into collecting materials specialized in music so that the citizens can have a variety of experiences using all five senses. It has displayed 6,287 music CDs, 1,195 LPs, 968 DVDs, and 2,824 music scores, as well as materials of the black music genre that reflect the regional musical characteristics were also extensively exhibited. What’s more, the library allows any citizen to borrow and enjoy these materials that cannot be easily accessed anywhere else for free of charge.

 

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Music Hall on the 3rd floor (left) and the book concert held at the Music Hall commemorating the Month of Reading with pianist Lim Hyun-Jung (right)

 

Uijeongbu Music Library has also been actively running relevant programs to utilize its musical infrastructure. It is planning to operate a library tour program in cooperation with educational institutions in the city as well as fields related to libraries and architecture. Also, the library is preparing customized music curations where it recommends perfect books for certain targets or suggests books by analyzing the rental history by age. Plus, it is planning to help all age groups – from children to adults – to build on their musical taste by planning and running music-related experience programs. Uijeongbu Music Library has organized musical instrument classes for children, programs for youth contemplating music-related career paths, music therapies for the general public, and regular in-depth lectures and programs for music experts and lovers. It is planning to build on its image as a library specializing in music, differentiated from other existing public libraries. Also, it will be carrying out enriched cultural projects by establishing a cooperative network with local culture and art organizations such as the Uijeongbu branch of the Music Association of Korea and Woorihamke.
Uijeongbu – a city that has created a focal point for strong cultural content by taking advantage of its regional characteristics, opening a library specializing in music. The beautiful melody the library will write in the future as a cultural platform that satisfies citizens’ intellectual and cultural desires while faithfully fulfilling the role as a public library, and a cultural complex is highly anticipated for sure.

 

Uijeongbu Music Library
Website: www.uilib.go.kr/music
Contact: +82-31-828-4850
Address: 280 Janggok-ro, Uijeongbu-si (in Jangam Neighborhood Park)

 

 


[Another Book Space]
Hoo, Hoo! Come and Enjoy
Korean Classical Music at Woorisori Library!


Music-themed libraries are more welcome as they are not common. Amongst all, there is a space, a hub of experiences and performances based on traditional Korean music (gugak), that also holds various books related to traditional Korean music. Woorisori Library, which opened in 2017, is a library and a complex specializing in traditional Korean music. It received material donations from relevant organizations such as the National Gugak Center, National Intangible Heritage Center, Gugak FM, traditional Korean music Association, and Korean Classical Music Record Museum. It boosted professionalism by establishing a sound source system to popularize gugak with the advice from experts.

 

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Inside views of Woorisori Library

 

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Pictures of various traditional Korean music programs held in the Woorisori library.

 

Woorisori Library holds and displays sound sources, CDs, LPs, and rare albums related to traditional Korean music, opens lectures and talk sessions, and offers small traditional Korean music performances. It not only preserves various materials related to traditional Korean music where people can familiarize themselves with its history and stories but also systematically collects more materials, promoting the beauty of traditional Korean sound. As a result, Woorisori Library has become a center of traditional Korean music by continuously supporting various relevant activities and promoting them, going beyond its role as a library.

 

Woorisori Library
Website: www.jfac.or.kr/site/main/content/woorisr01
Contact: +82-70-4550-5014
Address: 47 Samil-daero 30-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

 

 

 

 


Written by Kim Young-Ihm

 

kbbok

Kim Young-Ihm

#Uijeongbu Music Library#Music#Gugak#Woorisori Library
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