VOL.96/2026.07

Topic

 

The Coolest Summer Spent at the Library
A Foreign Visitor's Guide to Beating the Heat at the Library

 

 

2026.07

 

 

What kind of scenery usually comes to mind when you think of spending a summer retreat at a library? Most people probably imagine reading a book inside a closed-off, modern building while soaking in the cool air from an air conditioner. This time, however, I would like to introduce a “cool library summer retreat in harmony with nature,” which goes a step further than that, selected from the places I have personally visited.

 

 

 

 

Cheongun Literature Library: Walking Through the Past and Present of Korean Literature at the Foot of Inwangsan Mountain

 

First, Cheongun Literature Library, nestled at the foot of Inwangsan Mountain in Seoul, is a literature-specialized library where visitors can fully immerse themselves in the lyricism of modern and contemporary Korean literature. After borrowing a book from the basement library and stepping up to the Hanok reading room on the ground floor, visitors are welcomed by a lush green forest and a refreshingly cascading artificial waterfall. Sitting on the cool wooden floor of the pavilion while reading to the sound of the waterfall offers a taste of the refined cultural lifestyle enjoyed by Joseon Dynasty scholars. Although its collection of 12,000 volumes is relatively small compared to general libraries, it is an unparalleled haven for book lovers as a specialized library focusing heavily on poetry, novels, and essays.

 

Above all, the decisive reason to recommend this place is that the Yun Dong-ju Literature House, where you can encounter South Korea’s most beloved poet, is located right next to the library. Savoring the translated versions of his representative poetry collection, Sky, Wind, Stars, and Poems, brings a deep resonance to international visitors. In particular, the surrounding Seochon Alley area is a sacred ground that pieces together the past and present of Korean literature. It features not only House of Yi Sang, which preserves the life of the genius poet Yi Sang who fiercely contemplated life during a similar era to Yun Dong-ju, but also Onul Bookshop, a bookstore previously run by author Han Kang, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2024. All of these are within walking distance, allowing visitors to enjoy a refreshing reading session and a literary alley tour at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeonhwajeong Library: Finding K-Culture Atop a Lake of Blooming Lotuses

 

Yeonhwajeong Library, located right in the center of Deokjin Park in Jeonju, is a specialized traditional culture library housed in an elegant Hanok structure that appears to float upon the lake. It is richly stocked with Korea’s traditional culture, arts, and local content. In particular, Yeonhwajeong Library during July and August showcases the absolute pinnacle of a summer retreat. This is because tens of thousands of red lotuses, filling Deokjin Lake to the brim, come into full bloom right past the pleasant, panoramic windows through which a cool air-conditioned breeze flows. Reading a book while gazing out at the sea of crimson lotuses stretching in every direction offers a fantastical sense of visual fulfillment, making you feel as though you have stepped right into an Eastern ink-and-wash painting.

 

Even international visitors who are not yet fluent in reading Korean need not worry. This is thanks to the abundance of high-quality photobooks and illustrated books available here, which allow for an intuitive understanding of traditional Korean aesthetics, including Hanbok, traditional architecture, Korean food, and crafts. As you flip through local storybooks about the history of Jeonju or Pansori, using the gentle sounds of traditional Korean music flowing through the library as your background music, you will naturally absorb the very essence of Korean culture. Above all, it is highly recommended for anyone who wishes to delve deeper into the culture, as it allows visitors to browse a diverse array of books on K-culture at a single glance.

 

 

 

 

 

The “Beach Reading Room” at Jukdo Sanghwawon: Turning Pages with the Sound of the Waves

 

Jukdo Sanghwawon in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do, which I happened to visit by chance a short while ago, is not a library in the traditional sense, but the entire island itself is one massive, grand garden. Hidden within this island is a truly extraordinary reading space. It is the “Beach Reading Room,” nestled inside the Seokyang (Sunset) Garden section that faces the western sea. Thanks to a 2-kilometer-long roofed corridor that blocks out the scorching summer sun, Sanghwawon is a place where visitors can stroll in the cool shade while catching the breeze from the West Sea. The Beach Reading Room, encountered at the end of this corridor, is a space for pure healing and meditation. Listening to the cool sound of crashing waves while slowly reading through Kim Yeon-su’s novel, If the Waves Were the Ocean’s Work, it feels as though there could be no study or library grander than this.

 

 

 

 

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Written by Junran Choi (Adjunct Professor/Editor)

The author is an editor and holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Contents, conducting research and writing while bridging the gap between academia and the field. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Through her book, Book Culture Spaces and Urban Regeneration, she highlighted the value of book culture spaces and presented models for the sustainability of publishing, for which the book was selected as a Sejong Book in 2017. Currently, she focuses her research and writing on the in-depth connection between regional placeness and the publishing ecosystem.