The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 12th that the proclamation ceremony for the “2025 Book City of Korea” will be held at 3 PM on the 13th at the Peace Education Center within the Aegibong Peace Ecological Park in Gimpo City, Gyeonggi-do.
This year’s “Book City of Korea” is Gimpo City. Gimpo City has been acknowledged for its contributions to spreading a reading culture by operating various reading events such as “Sweet Humanities” and “Gimpo Citizens Book Sharing” at 7 public libraries and 4 small libraries, and by holding annual library book festivals since 2018.
The proclamation ceremony will feature an appointment ceremony for the ambassador and a celebration performance. The ambassador is singer Yang Hee-eun, who has published books such as “Geureora Geure.” The celebration performance will include a stage by the city’s children’s choir. Citizens will be given a “Reading Citizenship” (passport-like stamp book) to encourage reading.
Gimpo City plans to promote year-round reading culture events under the theme “Refresh with Books.” Events include “Evening with Books” for the whole family in June at Taesan Family Park and “Refresh Celebrity Lectures” from May to August, featuring speakers like Lee Ho-seon, Go Myeong-hwan, Kim Young-cheol, and Kim Heon.
The main event of this year’s “Reading Festival” will be held from September 19 to 21. It aims to spread reading culture in collaboration with organizations and institutions related to reading, publishing, bookstores, and libraries around Gimpo Hangang Central Park.
A cultural policy official stated, “We hope many citizens participate in the diverse reading promotion programs prepared by Gimpo City this year, enjoy the joy of reading together, and continue to live a life accompanied by books.” The official added, “We hope Gimpo City reestablishes itself as a ‘Book City’ through the ‘2025 Korea Reading Festival.'”