Are books on the upswing? Libraries score 230m visits as infrastructure expands

South Korea's public library infrastructure continued its steady expansion and improvement through 2025. The total number of public libraries nationwide reached 1,328 by the end of the year, marking an increase of 32 institutions or 2.5 percent compared to the previous year. This expansion has improved accessibility, reducing the population served per library by about 1,000, settling at 38,492 people. Of the 1,328 public libraries, Seoul and Gyeonggi Province have the most, with 214 and 328, res

By The Korea Herald