Seoul Metropolitan Library

About this place

Seoul Metropolitan Library opened in October 2012 inside the former Seoul City Hall, a building completed in 1926 and now listed as Registered Cultural Heritage No. 52. The renovation kept the original exterior walls, the main hall and the grand staircase largely intact and rebuilt only the interior as a library, so the shell remains a landmark of colonial-era architecture in the heart of the city. The third floor holds a restoration of the old mayor's office and the fifth floor a restoration exhibition room, both showing what the building was before the books arrived. Also on the third floor is the Seoul Archive, which collects material on the city's history, planning and administration; the library's holdings total more than 580,000 items. It stands directly in front of Exit 5 of City Hall Station on Subway Lines 1 and 2, with Seoul Plaza behind it, an easy walk from Deoksugung Palace and the Seoul Museum of Art.

Good to know

Address

110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Hours

Sat, Sun 09:00-18:00

Daily 09:00-21:00

Closed Mon

Tue-Fri 09:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-18:00. Only General Reading Rooms 1 and 2 stay open until 21:00; the Seoul Archive, World Archive, Digital Room and Accessible Materials Room all close at 18:00 whatever the day. When the 22nd of a month falls between Tuesday and Friday the library closes early at 20:00 for its Lights-Off Day event. It closes every Monday and on public holidays, but stays open when a public holiday falls on a Sunday.

Photo spots nearby

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  Deoksugung Palace

  5 min by transit

  5-min route →
• 

  Seoullo 7017

  11 min by transit

  11-min route →
• 

  Sungnyemun Gate (Namdaemun Gate)

  11 min by transit

  11-min route →
• 

  Jeongdong-gil

  11 min by transit

  11-min route →
• 

  Gwanghwamun Square

  13 min by transit

  13-min route →
• 

  Gyeonghuigung Palace

  14 min by transit

  14-min route →

Transit times by ODsay