Nowon Book Festival
Oct 17 – Oct 18, 2026 · Seoul
Overview
The 2026 Nowon Outdoor Library Romance Guaranteed is a reading culture event held under the theme 'In the Age of AI, It's People After All,' bringing together books, reading, and cultural programs in an outdoor space. Its main focus is on human encounters and communication mediated through books, in an environment where artificial intelligence and algorithms are widely used in daily life. At the venue, an outdoor bookshelf will be set up with books selected by librarians for visitors to read, along with rest areas for outdoor reading furnished with beanbags and camping chairs. During the event period, visitors can freely read books in the outdoor space, and reading culture programs centered on books and people, such as book concerts and humanities lectures, will be held. It is an outdoor library event that brings together a book exhibition, reading spaces, and performance and lecture programs in a single venue, allowing citizens to experience books and culture in a variety of ways.
Why go
This is a human-centred reading festival built around an outdoor library, set along the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail under the theme 'In the Age of AI, It's People After All.' Visitors can browse librarian-curated books from an open-air bookshelf, relax in beanbags or camping chairs, and take in book concerts and humanities lectures. It's a low-key, book-focused day out rather than a large festival with crowds or vendors.
Getting there from Seoul
The venue is inside Seoul, in Hagye-dong, Nowon-gu, so no intercity travel is needed. Take the subway to Hagye Station or Gongneung Station (Seoul Subway Line 7), both close to the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail, then walk to the Hagye 2-dong Community Service Center area. Local buses serving Nowon-gu also stop within walking distance of the trail.
Tips
- Bring a light blanket or extra layer for sitting outdoors in mid-October evenings, even with the provided beanbags and camping chairs.
- Check on-site signage or local announcements for the day's book concert and lecture times, since a detailed schedule isn't listed.
- Pair the visit with a stroll along the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail, which runs right past the venue.
Best for: book lovers, families, walkers.
Photos
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site