90 Minutes in Samseong-dong, Starting Beneath the 13-Meter Bookshelves: Starfield Library
Starfield Library is a free, open-access cultural space that opened on May 31, 2017, in the central plaza of Starfield COEX Mall. Centered around its 13-meter, two-level bookshelves and approximately 70,000 books, it is easy to reach via indoor walkways from Samseong Station and Bongeunsa Station, making it convenient to combine with a COEX itinerary.
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Why COEX Mall’s central plaza became a 2,800㎡ library on May 31, 2017
Byeolmadang Library is a double-decker open library that Shinsegae Property transformed from the central plaza at the heart of Starfield COEX Mall and opened to the public free of charge on May 31, 2017. The space covers approximately 2,800㎡ across two floors and was designed to serve as both a meeting point and a place to stay within the shopping mall.
At the time of its opening, COEX Mall was considered difficult to navigate because of its complicated paths following the 2014 renovation, and the operator determined that a clear central landmark was needed. Therefore, it is more accurate to understand this place not as a conventional public library with lending services and reading rooms, but as an open cultural plaza inside a mall, combining books, magazines, lectures, and performances in one space.
Three 13-meter bookshelves and about 70,000 volumes: a place not to miss even on a short visit
The centerpiece of the space is three large bookshelves standing 13 meters high. According to reports marking its second anniversary, the library held approximately 70,000 books and about 600 types of domestic and international magazines newly published each month. The circulation path for looking up at the shelves connects seamlessly with the central tables and seating.
On a first visit, it is efficient to view the entire space from in front of the bookshelves, then check the magazine corner and e-book reading area. Since this is an open reading space where books are read on-site rather than borrowed and taken outside, it suits people who want to spend 30–90 minutes of their COEX itinerary with books and architectural scale more than those seeking quiet seats for extended study.
Free admission from 10:30 to 22:00: how to include it in your COEX Mall route with no regular closing days
The official operating hours for Byeolmadang Library are 10:30–22:00 daily, and admission is free. No standard admission process requiring separate membership registration or a reservation has been identified, and you can inquire about same-day events or operational changes by calling the COEX Mall representative number at 1833-9001. The official address is B1, Starfield COEX Mall, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
No regular closing days are separately announced on the official page, so it is safest to leave this information unspecified. Programs using the central space, such as year-end decorations, lectures, and performances, may affect photography and seating routes. If your visit date is fixed, it is best to check the event notices on the official Byeolmadang Library page before setting out.
Enter indoors from Exits 5 and 6 of Samseong Station on Line 2 or Exit 7 of Bongeunsa Station on Line 9
By subway, the simplest route is to follow the connecting passage from Exit 5 or 6 of Samseong Station on Line 2 toward Millennium Plaza. From Bongeunsa Station on Line 9, you can enter toward ASEM Plaza via the connecting passage at Exit 7. At both stations, following the directions inside COEX Mall is more advantageous than crossing above ground during rain, extreme heat, or severe cold.
The official COEX Mall map marks GATE 1 on the Samseong Station side and GATE 4 on the Bongeunsa Station side. It states that reaching ASEM Plaza from Exit 2 of Cheongdam Station takes about 20 minutes on foot, so visitors carrying luggage or visiting for the first time are better off using Samseong Station or Bongeunsa Station.
1,500 won per 15 minutes by car: parking calculations for a free-reading visit
Parking at COEX Mall costs 1,500 won per 15 minutes for passenger cars, with a daily maximum of 60,000 won. Parking is free if you exit within 20 minutes of entering, but if you stay longer than 20 minutes, the standard fee is charged including those first 20 minutes. Large buses cannot use the COEX Mall parking lot.
Purchase receipts from Starfield COEX Mall provide one, two, or three hours of free parking for purchases of at least 50,000, 100,000, or 150,000 won, respectively. However, Byeolmadang Library itself is a free space, so visitors who only read and leave should not expect to receive a purchase-based parking discount. People with disabilities and national merit recipients receive a 50% discount upon verification, while mobile parking payments through Kakao T receive a 20% discount for eligible vehicles.
Stroller and wheelchair rental beside the Megabox entrance, 10:30–20:00
If you need a wheelchair, you can rent one from the stroller rental desk at Starfield COEX Mall by leaving an identification card. The rental desk is indicated as being in the passage beside the Megabox entrance and behind Eight Seconds, and wheelchair rentals are available from 10:30 to 20:00. Accessible restrooms are also available throughout the mall.
Strollers can be rented from 10:30–20:00 at the rental desk in the passage beside the Megabox entrance, and from 11:00–19:00 at the rental desk beside the restroom behind Eight Seconds. Stroller rental is available for infants weighing 15 kg or less and under 36 months of age; an identification card and the accompanying child are required. Byeolmadang Library has open sightlines across its two floors, but traffic through the central area may become congested during events. For wheelchair and stroller users, choosing a relatively less busy time, such as immediately after opening or on a weekday afternoon, is more practical.
An indoor-focused half-day combining Bongeunsa Temple and COEX Aquarium
Byeolmadang Library is on B1 of COEX Mall and connects along the same route with Megabox, COEX Aquarium, and dining establishments in the complex. For a short itinerary, combining 30–60 minutes at the library, 60 minutes for a meal, and one reserved activity—an exhibition, aquarium visit, or movie—reduces travel time.
If you would also like to see outdoor scenery, you can include Bongeunsa Temple in the direction of Exit 7 of Bongeunsa Station on Line 9. However, Byeolmadang Library is not a quiet reading room but a shared cultural space in the middle of a shopping mall, and sound and visitor numbers increase on performance days. If quiet, concentrated reading is your priority, it is more suitable to choose a public library such as Seoul Metropolitan Library or the National Library of Korea as a separate itinerary.
Before You Go
- Address
- B1, Starfield COEX Mall, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Hours
- Daily 10:30–22:00
- Admission
- Free
- Phone
- 1833-9001
- Official site
- https://starfield.co.kr/m/coexmall/starfieldLibrary/library.do
- Transport
- Enter toward Millennium Plaza via the connecting passage from Exits 5 or 6 of Samseong Station on Line 2; enter toward ASEM Plaza via the connecting passage from Exit 7 of Bongeunsa Station on Line 9; about 20 minutes on foot from Exit 2 of Cheongdam Station on Line 7
- Parking
- Use the COEX Mall parking lot. Passenger cars: 1,500 won per 15 minutes, up to 60,000 won per day; free when exiting within 20 minutes. Purchases of 50,000/100,000/150,000 won provide 1/2/3 hours free.
- Time needed
- 30–90 minutes
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair rental available after leaving an identification card at the stroller rental desk (10:30–20:00). Accessible restrooms available inside COEX Mall.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
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