With a history spanning over 120 years, Busan Metropolitan Simin Library is the first public library in Korea, contributing to the development of reading culture in the region through its extensive collection of approximately 900,000 items and a wide range of distinctive reading programs.
The library has led the “One Book, One Busan” reading campaign since 2004, promoting a culture of reading among citizens. As a specialized library for rare books and historical materials, it holds approximately 26,000 items, including culturally significant materials registered as Busan Metropolitan City Cultural Heritage.
Since 2020, as a library under the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education, it has also implemented outreach programs such as “Library to Schools,” offering lifelong learning programs that support learning and personal development.
Library Overview
- Library Name: Busan Metropolitan Simin* Library (* Simin means “citizen”)
- Address: 462, World cup-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan
- Facilities: Site Area 11,443㎡, Gross Floor Area 12,513㎡ (B1–4F)
Floor | Spaces |
B1 | Cafeteria, “Citizen Voice Forest” (Auditorium) |
1F | Collections (Early Childhood & Children’s, Information Center for Persons with Disabilities), Offices, Lecture Room |
2F | Collections (Literature, Humanities & Social Sciences, Science & Technology), Stacks, History Gallery |
3F | Digital Commons, Special Collections Storage, “Immersive Library 1901”, Periodicals Corner, Multicultural Collection Corner, Open Reading Room, Women’s Reading Room, Lecture Room, Offices, Lounge |
4F | Men’s Reading Room, Adult Reading Room, Outdoor Lounge |
- Parking: 90 spaces (2 accessible, 1 priority for pregnant women and families with infants)
- Staff: 60 (including 27 librarians) as of January 1, 2026
- Opened: October 10, 1901
Main Features
- A library with over 120 years of history, established in 1901 as the Busan branch of the Hongdohoe (a historic Korean enlightenment organization), offering a space where historical records and future knowledge can be experienced together
- A specialized rare books library holding original materials related to Korea–Japan diplomacy, along with rare Korean classics and numerous pre-1945 publications
- “Immersive Library 1901,” a space to experience future-oriented library environments and digital books, and “Visible Storage” showcasing special collections, including publications from the 1950s–60s and first-edition magazines
- A future-oriented library integrating new technologies, including media production spaces, VR experience zones, and children’s ICT experience areas
Nearby Attractions: Cultural Venues, Parks, Temples, and Local Dining
- Baekyangsan Mountain walking trail, Samgwangsa Temple
- Busan Citizens Park (History Museum), Busan Children’s Grand Park
- Busan Concert Hall (classical music), Busan National Gugak Center (Korean traditional music)
- Busan Sports Complex