A family reading festival at the Yangjae Stream Waterfront Culture Rest Area on June 13 — featuring lectures, a Golden Bell quiz, and author programs. Indoors, in-depth book talks and reading programs; outdoors, a nature-side book market, hands-on activities, and an open-air library.
[The Herald Business = Senior Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangnam-gu (district mayor Jo Seong-myeong) will host the "2026 Gangnam Book Festival," a family reading culture festival, at the Yangjae Stream Waterfront Culture Rest Area on June 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Themed around "reading widely," the festival weaves together books, nature, hands-on activities, and performances into a full-day event for all ages — from young children to adults.
The program draws on both the Yangjae Stream and the waterfront rest area: indoors, visitors can enjoy immersive reading programs, while outdoors, nature-integrated experiential events await. Indoor offerings include author meet-and-greets, reading quizzes, and lectures, while the outdoor spaces are set up as an open reading festival where visitors can read, explore, and relax amid nature.
The event is expected to give visitors a full sense of the joy of reading amid the natural setting of Yangjae Stream.
On the first floor of the rest area, a "Traveling Humanities Concert" opens at 11 a.m. Author Kim Ae-ran — widely known as the writer behind the bestselling novel "I Said Goodbye" and the original work adapted into the Netflix hit "Where Do You Want to Go?" — will take the stage to discuss the seasons and music woven into her writing, and the role that songs and stories play in everyday life.
The session is expected to go beyond the pleasure of reading, offering audiences a shared moment of comfort and resonance that literature brings to daily life.
From 1:30 to 2 p.m., picture book author Kim Eun-seon, known for "Momomomomomo," will give a lecture. At 3 p.m., a "Reading Golden Bell Quiz" for elementary school students follows — a survival-style competition in which pre-registered children who have read the selected books compete until one last contestant rings the Golden Bell. The program is designed to help children not only read but also feel a sense of accomplishment through the challenge of the quiz.
The outdoor spaces along Yangjae Stream will be transformed into an experiential festival ground where books and nature come together. Open-air library spots will be set up throughout the venue so visitors can sit down and read freely, and a book curation exhibition introducing titles on the environment and nature-themed picture books will also be on offer. Magic and bubble performances tied to books will round out the outdoor program, creating a stage that expands children's imagination through storytelling.
Hands-on activities designed to spark children's creativity are plentiful. A "photo-literature vending machine" prints out moving literary passages on the spot; other activities include large-format coloring on oversized sheets, face painting, character keyring making, and pop-up frame crafting. Imagination sparked by books flows into play and making, turning the entire outdoor space along Yangjae Stream into one big open reading playground.
A "Neighborhood Bookshop Network Book Market" featuring independent bookstores from across the country will also set up at the venue. Each participating shop will personally introduce and sell its carefully curated selections, showcasing distinctive titles rarely found at major chain bookstores. A food truck zone serving churros, ice cream, and more will operate alongside the market, giving families a place to enjoy books and a leisurely break together.
A participatory event will add to the fun: the "Catch the Yellow Hat!" program lets visitors play rock-paper-scissors with festival staff to earn coins redeemable for prizes, drawing crowds to various spots around the venue throughout the day.
Registration for the two flagship programs — the Kim Ae-ran humanities concert and the Reading Golden Bell Quiz — opened on a first-come, first-served basis on May 29. Full details and sign-up instructions are available on the Gangnam-gu Integrated Library website.
"I hope this becomes a day for children and parents to spend time together through books, nurturing imagination and strengthening their bond," district mayor Jo said. Then he added, "We will consistently expand reading-friendly cultural spaces and programs so that residents can enjoy books and culture as part of their everyday lives."
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