Step Inside Seoul’s Library Culture: The Soul of the City
Carol Berndt
On our final day in South Korea, we decided to walk Seoul’s pleasant downtown streets from bustling Myeong-dong shopping district to City Hall and Seoul Plaza, where we encountered a sight so unexpected that we giggled with delight.
Seoul Plaza is the traditional heart of the city, a large historical and political centre known as the site of significant social protests. It fronts Seoul’s modern glass city hall, with its indoor vertical gardens, and the Seoul Metropolitan Library, a modern conversion of a historical government building constructed during Japanese occupation. On that day the plaza had been transformed into an outdoor public library, with beanbag sofas and chairs, bubble cabins, and stools emblazoned with the logo “Seoul My Soul.” Dozens of bins of books, arranged by age group and topic, attract groups of teenagers, parents reading to their children, and curious onlookers like us. The books featured works by contemporary “K-Lit” authors, Korean translations of popular international titles, and English materials.
The more than thirty public libraries in Seoul are powerful symbols in a country that is known for its high levels of literacy and its rigorous educational system. They serve as research centres and hubs for study groups and language learning clubs. Koreans are particularly proud of their unique writing system. Hangul is one of the most scientifically designed and efficient scripts in the world, consisting of an orthography of twenty-four basic letter shapes arranged in syllable blocks. Hangul was promulgated by Joseon king, Sejong the Great (r. 1418–1450) to replace the ancient Hanja writing system (Chinese characters representing Korean sounds). Since 1447, Hangul has been the predominant script for both Koreas and the Korean diaspora. A vast array of written materials in many genres is available in Hangul, and now increasingly in English. The Korean government has had a major focus on developing the level of English for all students in the promotion of becoming global citizens.
Since the 1990s, the Calgary Board of Education’s (CBE) International Bureau has had a significant role in attaining that goal. Initially, the CBE provided training for Korean English teachers, offering a month-long immersion of cultural and linguistic experiences while learning second language pedagogies. An official memorandum of understanding (MOU) was eventually signed between the CBE and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The MOU included ongoing English teacher training, leadership training for Korean school principals, educational tours to Seoul, and teacher exchanges in which CBE teachers spent a year in Seoul assisting with English-language programming. The CBE and other school boards throughout the province welcomed thousands of Korean students over the years.
I had the privilege of being on one of those educational tours, graciously hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. I saw first-hand the high educational standards, the quality schools, the dedication and skill of Korean educators, and the active participation of parents in the educational progress of their children. My friend and colleague, Monica, grew up and attended school in Seoul, eventually becoming an English teacher, researcher, and curriculum developer studying international educational systems and curriculum for the government. Monica proudly discusses South Korea’s rigorous school system and the zealous attitude toward learning. By secondary school, Korean students are typically studying a dozen distinct subjects daily. They are also expected to arrive at school early and leave late as they participate in self-study time, inspirational broadcasts, and even in contributing to cleaning classrooms. Many students also have private tutors and take private lessons to develop skills with the arts, technology, or sport. Monica has fond memories of gathering with fellow students at Korea’s first public library, Namsan Library, now a popular tourist attraction. Situated in a park at the base of Namsan Mountain, it promotes lifelong learning through exhibitions, lectures, shows, cultural classes, and an excellent cafeteria serving traditional Korean dishes.
Although we were delighted at the sight of the outdoor library, we were not entirely surprised. Our observations of the vibrant city, recollections of the previous school visits, and the growing global awareness of the contributions of Korean culture affirm the soul of Seoul.
Carol Berndt is an avid traveller who, with her husband Erich, has experienced more than seventy countries. She is particularly interested in delving into the historical and cultural aspects that shape the soul of a nation. She gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Sheila McLeod, Director of Global Learning/Corporate Partnerships, Calgary Board of Education (retired), and Monica Moosbauer, Team Leader, The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth.