One of the first membership I´ve made here in Germany when we moved here was getting a Library card.Here we pay a minimal amount yearly for a membership in the Stadtbucherei or City Library then we have unlimited access to all media.Books, CD´s and other reading materials, you name it. You can borrow and indulge in reading as much as you want. Visiting the library was quite a routine for me & my daughter and this is one of the things I loved here in our town.

The Starfield CoEx Library in Seoul is one place that you should not missed if you are a bookworm.It´s a world class library inside the CoEx Mall in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea. I´ve seen this very often in Instagram and I was curious to see it in real.You know thosse IG-worthy places where it suddenly pop ups in my feed whenever I am researching for our trip.

In reality, it´s far surprising than in photos.It´s pretty, looks magnanimous when it comes to their wide selection of books–too bad most of them are in Korean, or Hangul.Aesthetically, it´s an architecture hub–with 13 meter tall bookshelves, with soft lights for easy reading pleasure.The tables are with different socket plugs for those with laptops and it has a wide collection of more than 50,000 books from hobby to literature pieces. They also have a lot of magazines so you can basically spend hours here.Good thing, they also have Eglish book collection!You just need to ask in the reception and they would gladly help you to find it.

My daughter loves to read, me as well. I tried to read and make time for it.Seeing this Library makes me wanna stay here the whole day and just do nothing and just be immersed with the written texts. I still have a list of books to read–I will probably read them, I am sure I am esp. the ” Ikigai” by Hector Garcia.

CoEx mall is the largest underground mall in Asia and this is where this Library is located.They also have a huge Aquarium inside but I really find it super pricey so we skipped that.It was a rainy day when we visited Gangnam to see Bongeunsa Temple so actually this was our plan B.We have a full day itinery in Gangnam so we wanted to explore it a bit more but the rain just keep on pouring.

I´ve read that the location of CoEx mall was the same place where Seunggwapyeong happens before –(literally meaning -qualification exams).Seunggwapyeoung is a national examination for monks.

Once you´ve seen this “Gangnam Style Hand Sculpture” in the vicinity, you know you are in the right location.The three of us actually stepped on the stage and we danced to Gangnam style song which I find really cool!

Gangnam is quite different from In-sadong or Myeondong area. It´s more commercialized and modern. My friend lives here and we have visited her on another schedule and looking for their apartment was quite a hunt.

Once we´re inside the Library, I was quite surprised as how touristy it was.Seoul is full of tourists so actually it is normal.When it´s raining outside then more people opt to stay inside the mall until the rain stops.

Were we able to sit & read something? The answer is No.It is so crowded that I´m wondering if people would be able to have a quiet read here. Every corner, there are people posing for selfies and doing photoshoots.There´s no space left and it´s kind of noisy with different languages that I am hearing! Cameras clicking here and there and I was too distracted to really admire the place.

Yes, it is an architectural hub if you are a great fan of pretty structures but I guess it just become one of those famous Photo sites where you spend 10 minutes taking photos and then you´re done.I would probably visit this place on a quiet monday morning where there are less people.

But then, Bibliophiles or not–I can´t deny that this place is quite special.Thinking about how Koreans pay attention to details and love for creativity, then I am definitely loving this Library. Afterall, we don´t have something like this here in Münich or in all of Bavaria.

“Books and doors are the same thing. You open them, and you go through into another world.” – Jeanette Winterson

What is your current read?

Until then, Tschüss!