VOL.69/2024.04

 

[Book Spaces in Korean Media ③]

Seoul Metropolitan Library

A Historical Space Featured in Films and Dramas

 

2022.12.05

 

Located in the center of Seoul, there is a special place near City Hall Station that boasts the history of Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Library was reborn as a space of books and culture for citizens after being used as the city hall during the Japanese occupation of Korea. As the library was used as the background for the popular Korean variety show “Running Man” and the music video of PSY’s “Gentleman,” which led the Korean Wave, it has been a frequently-visited tourist destination for people from around the world. The building of the Seoul Metropolitan Library, which countless people have visited throughout its history, also has a tremendous aura. Just in front of the library is Seoul Plaza, where you can find various groups of people, from busy office workers to foreign tourists taking photographs. Here is a short walk through the Seoul Metropolitan Library, which has kept its place as the repository of Seoul’s history surrounded by the rapidly changing city.

 

 

Special spots unique to the Seoul Metropolitan Library

 

The first thing you see when you enter the library through the main entrance is the General Collections room. Divided into rooms 1 and 2 over two floors, it stores general Korean books. Also, the “Saengag Maru (meaning ‘thinking floor’ in Korean)” stairs are like the iconic spot of the library. If you sit down and read books leisurely surrounded by shelves full of books covering the entire wall, you will find yourself immersed in reading without even noticing it, just like the name “Saengag Maru” implies. This was already a spot that citizens frequently visited in the library, but after it was found out that the place was used for the music video of PSY’s “Gentleman,” it became a popular place for foreign visitors as well. So if you are a K-Pop lover, it would be a great experience to take the time to befriend books at “Saengag Maru.”

 

 

The Global Collections room on the fourth floor is unlike any other library. The world map filling the wall and each shelf decorated with national flags create a somewhat solemn atmosphere. However, as this room stocks various books written in different languages, anyone from all over the world can enjoy them comfortably. Some examples are original books written in various languages, the “Korea collection,” which introduces Korea as a country, some materials donated by embassies and cultural centers, and international publications. The “Korea collection,” in particular, includes Korean books written in different languages and books about Korea, which help foreign visitors understand the country more easily and learn about Korean literature.
There is another unique location within the Seoul Metropolitan Library. As the name suggests, in the Seoul Document Collections room located on the third floor, you can read publications, academic journals, and periodicals published by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul-related organizations. There is also a section where you can find a summary of Seoul’s history, including the former mayors of Seoul and the city’s transformations. As you can choose books from a wide range of fields, from politics and administration to travel books related to Seoul, it will be a meaningful place to add to your itinerary if you are planning to come to Seoul. But please note that books in the Seoul Document Collections room cannot be checked out.

 

 

Joy found in the Library

 

There are many other entertainment elements in the Seoul Metropolitan Library besides books. For example, on the third floor, themed “Where the memory of Seoul lies,” there is another place where you can meet the history of Seoul, apart from the Seoul Archival Services room. The restoration of the Old Mayor’s Room had been used since Korea’s liberation from the Japanese occupation in 1945 until May 2008. It is divided into three sections: the Planning & Situation Room, the Reception Room, and the Mayor’s Room. As it is a pretty good representation of the then Seoul, displaying old supplies and furniture, you will feel as if you are walking inside Seoul’s history.
This office was also used to shoot the popular SBS variety show “Running Man.” In the 130th episode titled “Reincarnation Special,” seven members became special envoys and raced across the Seoul Metropolitan Library, transcending time and space as they came across historical facts. So let’s go back in time to the history of Seoul while thinking of “Running Man” members doing hidden missions in all corners of the library.

 

 

The fifth floor is where you can find traces of the old city hall, just like the third floor. On the fifth floor, you will find detailed explanations of the building’s structure, construction materials, and history, just like a museum. Also, if you come through the door to the outside, there is “HaneulTteul,” a roof garden. While it is also known as a famous observatory in Seoul, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul Plaza. The magnificent view from the garden will refresh your heart. “HaneulTteul” is also where the drama “Fight for My Way” was filmed, starring the popular actors Park Seo-Joon and Kim Ji-Won. The drama, featuring a love story of youth, attracted empathy from many Koreans while receiving a great deal of love from global viewers. The drama was also reproduced as a webtoon – it was a hot topic because there are few webtoons based on dramas, whereas there are a lot of dramas based on webtoons.

 

 

Seoul Plaza, which can be seen from “HaneulTteul,” is where the library holds various programs, such as “Seoul Plaza Reading Books.” This program was organized by Seoul City commemorating World Book and Copyright Day on April 23, and it is more meaningful as it was an outdoor event held for the first time in two years due to the pandemic. It was massive in size, displaying about 3,000 books and accommodating up to 500 visitors. Unfortunately, it ended in November, bringing the year’s event to a close. It is scheduled to reopen in April next year. On top of that, various events, including book-related programs and yoga and DIY classes, are regularly organized in the plaza. For more information on schedules and applications, go to the library website.

 

 

With the story adding more uniqueness to the Seoul Metropolitan Library, the place is filled not only with books, but also with various things to see and enjoy. Apart from the exhibition rooms and rooms storing materials and books, if you take a closer look at different parts of the library, you will find photographs of Seoul in the past. You will be able to feel as if you have witnessed the changes in Seoul in person. The Seoul Metropolitan Library has become a beloved spot for foreigners as it was used as a background for many different TV shows and films, promoting Korean history to the world. Its appearance has changed slightly over time, but its history remains intact. Let’s take a break by visiting the Seoul Metropolitan Library, which serves as a shelter in the bustling, vibrant city.

 

Seoul Metropolitan Library
Website: https://lib.seoul.go.kr
Contact: +82-2-2133-0300
Address: 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

 

 

 

 

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Written by Kim Jeong-Yeon