Libraries in Korea Where You Can Enjoy a Special Kind of Healing
- zone tp
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
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Libraries aren’t just for reading—they can also be places to work in a new setting or simply relax.
It’s also nice to enjoy the unique atmosphere of libraries that changes from country to country, and city to city.
Korea also has special libraries designed as comfortable spaces for both locals and tourists.
Discover libraries in Korea that blend with nature and offer a peaceful atmosphere for reading!
Let's begin😎
Yeonhwa-jeong Library is a unique hanok-style library where you can read while overlooking a serene pond and bridge. This library is uniquely built right in the middle of the pond in Deokjin Park, Jeonju. Therefore, to enter the building, you must cross Yeonhwa Bridge, a traditional fence-style bridge. Thanks to this feature, you can calm your mind by passing through the peaceful scenery on the way into the library. The library is divided into two areas: Yeonhwadang, the main reading space, and Yeonhwaru, a rest area where you can relax or enjoy traditional games. The building itself reflects traditional Korean aesthetics, and the books inside focus on Korean traditions and local Jeonju culture. The surrounding Deokjin Pond is also known for its lotus flowers, offering a stunning blend of hanok architecture and blooming lotus scenery during the flowering season.
Address: 390-1 Gwonsamdeuk-ro, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do
Work: 10AM–7PM (Mon, Closed)
Odong Public Library, located in Odong Neighborhood Park in Seongbuk-gu, is a nature-friendly library where you can enjoy the beauty of nature within the city. Designed to reflect the flow of the park’s trails, this wooden building offers various spaces that blend harmoniously with the surroundings. The roofs are built at different heights, allowing natural light to pour in through the gaps, and window seats with views of the forest are available inside. While the plants placed throughout the building create a refreshing atmosphere, the seats by the windows, which feel as if you're in the forest, are especially popular even on weekdays. From the cozy, book-filled interior to the outdoor paths around the building, it’s a healing space worth exploring slowly. This place, once a dusty and noisy wood crushing site, has now become a perfect resting spot and walking path for citizens!
Address: 110-10 Hwarang-ro 13ga-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
Work: 9AM–6PM (Mon, Closed)
Cheongun Literature Library, located in Jongno-gu and known as the first hanok-style public library in the area famous for Bukchon Hanok Village, offers various reading programs. The building carries special meaning, as it uses handmade roof tiles crafted in the same way as those used to restore Sungnyemun(Namdaemun), along with reused tiles from demolished hanok houses. This is a literature-specialized library mainly housing poetry, novels, and essays, and often hosts exhibitions, lectures, and poetry classes focused on Korean literature and authors, which are worth participating in. It’s also known for its popular photo zone featuring a waterfall backdrop—step into the small pavilion, and you’ll find a great spot for a unique photo with the open doorway framing the artificial waterfall. You can also enjoy a literary walking route that starts at Cheongun Literary Library and leads to the Inwangsan Forest Rest Area, Deosup chosochaekbang, and the Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum.
Address: 40 Jahamun-ro 36-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Work: Tue–Fri 9AM–9PM
Sat, Sun 9AM–7PM (Mon, Closed)
Banyawol Station History Small Library is a railroad-themed library created by relocating Banyawol Station, a former simple station on the old Daegu Line. After closing in 2008, the station has been operating as a small library since 2011, serving as a resting place for citizens. Designated as Modern Registered Cultural Heritage No. 270, the station is being used meaningfully without damaging its historical value, earning much praise. Although the library itself is not large, it holds about 10,000 books across various fields. The space is cozy and comfortable, serving as a place for cultural exchange and communication from the storytelling room on the first floor to the attic on the second floor. Located within Daegu Line Banyawol Park, the path to the library is scenic, and the library’s exterior adds charm to the park, enhancing everyday enjoyment.
Address: 50 Sinseo-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu
Work: Mon–Fri 9AM–6PM (1–2PM, Break Time)
Library of the Silla Millennium, located within the National Gyeongju Museum, is a special space where visitors can access the museum’s collection of books. The exterior preserves the traditional hanok style of the building, originally used as a storage facility, while the interior has been modernly redesigned. The blend of modern design with Korean aesthetics, including stone lanterns and bamboo forests visible through the windows, creates a unique atmosphere. The library holds a diverse collection of publications by the National Gyeongju Museum, exhibition catalogs from Korea and abroad, and books related to Silla and Gyeongju studies. The Book Curation Room hosts various events where curators and librarians introduce themed book selections. As the museum’s library, this place offers exclusive events worth attending. Opposite the library is the Silla Millennium Exhibition Hall, where visitors can admire actual treasures designated as cultural assets, making it a great complement to your visit.
Address: 186 Iljeong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Work: Mon–Fri 10AM–6PM
Dasan Castle Library, located at the edge of the Hanyang Fortress, offers a charming mix of historic fortress atmosphere and an indoor garden within the library. Built on a sloping hillside, the building spans three floors with various facilities. The library’s cozy interior and diverse seating options make it perfect for reading or resting after walking the Hanyang Fortress Trail. It houses a wide range of books, including many related to the Hanyang Fortress. After exploring the 600-year-old fortress, the largest surviving capital fortress heritage in the world, visitors can deepen their knowledge here through related books. Choose from various seating areas like the sunlit main hall with large windows, the children’s corner, or private reading booths. A small rooftop rest area offers a lovely view of Seoul city and the fortress trail once again.
Address: 173 Dongho-ro 17-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Work: 9AM–10PM (Mon, Closed)
