If you were thinking of skipping the Gangnam district and sticking to the historical village of Bukchon, think again. Gangnam’s modern and innovative experiences like Starfield Library and it’s architecure will take your breath away.
When visiting Seoul, South Korea, one attraction you shouldn’t miss is the renowned Starfield Library. Before I get into it, let me rattle off some Starfield Library facts to get you hooked. COEX Mall is the largest underground shopping center in Asia. If you know me, I’m not one to shop or stop in malls when traveling. I’d rather stop in boutiques and one-of-a-kind stores, but I had to add COEX Mall to my itinerary. COEX Mall not only has your usual international and domestic stores and dining amenities, it also has a massive aquarium with over 40,000 sea creatures. Does your mall have that? I know mine in New York don’t! But that’s not why I came to COEX Mall. I stopped by to see Starfield Library, a unique and captivating experience for book lovers and architecture enthusiasts alike.
The best way to get to Starfield Library is via subway. Get off at Samseong Station and take exit 6 towards Starfield COEX Mall. From there, it’s pretty straightforward. COEX Mall is so big, you are bound to get lost or have a hard time finding one of the many entrances. Luckily, they’ve made it easy to find the East entrance, which is where Starfield Library can be found. Just look for a huge statue of two hands performing the Gangnam Style horse-riding dance move.
The mall is hard to miss. It’s located in the heart of the Gangnam district. I’m sure you’ve all heard of the hit song Gangnam Style. For those who do not know what Gangnam is or why it is special, it is a district in Seoul that is considered the Beverly Hills of South Korea. It is where all the Korean celebrities live, it is rich in stores, dining, international business, clubs, and really nice cars. And let’s not forget, some of the best plastic surgery institutions in Asia. Koreans are very big into plastic surgery and you’ll see signs everywhere for it! But I digress.
Once you’ve made it into the mall, start following the signs for Starfield Library. Starfield Library is an open public library with 50,000+ books. Sure, that might not seem special said like that. But wait till you see what Seoul calls “a library.” This two story library is 13 meters or 42 feet tall. You need to take an escalator up the entire side of the bookcase that wraps around the wall to see it all.
Starfield Library’s design doesn’t stop at the perimeter. In the center of the space, you’ll find captivating triangle-shaped bookcases that appear as intricate drawings at first glance. At first glance, they just look like beautifully depicted drawings. But if you pay attention, those images of the giraffe, polar bear, animals, and Santa (we were nearing Christmas at the time), are actually just a collection of books stacked together to create an image. I mean…HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!?! I have never seen anything like it. That is such a Korean thing to do. The attention to detail and creativity just blows my mind!
The majority of the books at Starfield Library are in Korean, but you can also find a few English books if you ask at one of the information kiosks. Unfortunately, you cannot check out any of the books, but you can read them within the area physically or from an iPad in one of the 200 seats available to people. From plush sofas, table seats, benches, and cafés, there is no shortage of space.
After immersing yourself in the captivating world of Starfield Library, consider venturing further and exploring the vibrant Gangnam area. For example, hit up an interesting café in Seoul such as Banana Tree. With so many cafés in Seoul, I couldn’t see them all. This one was on my list. I was going to stop by right before my Korean body scrub at Spa Lei since it was nearby, but I was all café-ed out. What makes this café in Itaewon so special is that it serves you cakes in the actual flower pots. And of course, you need to eat them with a shovel! Only in Korea my friends…or Japan!
If you weren’t planning on stopping by the Gangnam area, I highly recommend you do. Sure, I agree that the historical district of Bukchon Hanok Village has more charm to it. But if you want to live and breathe the true modern culture of Korea, a visit to COEX Mall to see Starfield Library is a must.
>> Next: Exploring the Work of Art That Is Ihwa Mural Village
@svadore If you were thinking of skipping the Gangnam district and sticking to the historical village of Bukchon in South Korea, think again. Gangnam’s modern and innovative experiences like Starfield Library will take your breath away… a must see! • • • • #seoul #starfieldlibrary #travelling #southkoreatravel #foryou #booklovers ♬ La belle vie – Sacha Distel
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