Building Korea’s first public library for comics and web-toons

Abstract

This poster portrays the process of the planning the first public library for comics to be built in South Korea. Cartoons are flourishing in S. Korea. ‘K-toon’ is famous worldwide as Korea's Naver Webtoon has grown at an annual average of 71% and 32% in the digital comics market in the US and Japan over the past two years. However, in most cases, cartoons are vulnerable to be lost, so there is a need for public libraries to collect them. Recently, as the value of comics as library collection increases, City of Busan came up with an idea to build Korea's first public library specializing in comics including web-toons. This library, enables the expansion of cartoon experience through building specialized comic collections. Busan City plans to create a theme street centered on this new public library to revitalize the region and develop the area as a tourist attraction. Various spaces specializing in cartoons are created inside the library to promote cartoon imagination, and in an open space where new experiences are possible, collection and preservation of cartoon materials, various cartoon planning exhibitions, and educational and cultural programs are promoted.