Kokdu (Kim Jung-hyun) and Han Gye-jeol (Im Soo-hyang) come together to this library in episode 15 of Kokdu: Season of Deity (Kkokduui Gyejeol/꼭두의 계절) (MBC, 2023).

While waiting in her car at this library’s car park –the Forest of Wisdom Parking Lot/지혜의숲 주차장–
Han Ji-yeon (Han Sun-hwa) greets her yoga boss in the rain at the outdoor Forest of Wisdom Parking Lot [지혜의숲 주차장] in episode 5 of Work Later Drink Now 2 (Soolkkundoshiyeojadeul 2/술꾼도시여자들2) (TVING, 2022-23).

Kim Yu-mi (Kim Go-eun) and Yoo Bobby (Park Jin-young/Jinyoung of GOT7) go on a date at this book cafe in full episode 4 of Yumi’s Cells 2 (Yumiui Sepodeul 2/유미의 세포들 2) (TVING, 2022). Bobby reveals that he had always wanted to work for the publishing company that runs it, but his application was unsuccessful.

Seo Eun-pyeong (Lee Sang-yeob) launches his book at a book concert that’s held here in episode 1 of Eve/Ibeu (이브) (tvN, 2022).

When Park Tae-yang (Park Ju-hyun) is about to sign a new contract with the head coach (Kim Hee-chang) of rivaling Somang Bank Badminton Team at the café of this library in episode 5 of Love All Play / The Speed Going to You 493km (너에게 가는 속도 493km) (KBS2, 2022), her coach at Yunis, Lee Tae-sang (Jo Han-chul) steps in at the last minute.

While waiting in her car at this library’s car park –the Forest of Wisdom Parking Lot/지혜의숲 주차장– in episode 2 of Sh**ting Stars/Shooting Stars (Byeolttongbyeol/별똥별) (tvN, 2022), journalist Jo Ki-bbeum (Park So-jin/Sojin of Girl’s Day) spots Happy (cameo by Kim Seul-gi), whom she did an interview with the previous day. She follows her and discovers that her girly baby-talk is only a facade. In episode 5, Gong Tae-sung (Kim Young-dae) films a scene of the drama ‘The World of Stars’ at this place’s café.

Cha Cha-woong’s (Park Hae-jin) Fantasy Magic Show takes place here (the staircase exterior is seen) in episode 1 of From Now On, Showtime!/Showtime Begins!/It’s Showtime! (지금부터, 쇼타임!) (MBC, 2022) and this is where he and Go Seul-hae (Jin Ki-joo), who comes here following a thief, first run into each other.

Lee Young-kook (Ji Hyun-woo) and Park Dan-dan (Lee Se-hee) come here separately to attend a book launch in episode 47 of Young Lady and Gentleman/A Gentleman and a Young Lady (신사와 아가씨) (KBS2, 2021-22), which is an awkward encounter for both of them, especially as Dan-dan is here in company with her college friend Ma Hyun-bin (Lee Tae-ri).

While Yoon Jae-min (Cha Seo-won) runs away from the bodyguards sent by his parents in episodes 3-4 of Second Husband (두 번째 남편/Du Beonjjae Nampyeon) (MBC, 2021), he runs into Bong Sun-hwa (Uhm Hyun-kyung) who is here for a flower delivery.

Worried by his financial problems, Nam Sang-soon (Ahn Chang-hwan) sits down on a staircase of this library (accessible over its rooftop) and tries to find a solution in episode 12 of Monthly Magazine Home/Monthly House (월간 집) (JTBC, 2021). Suddenly, he receives a note from his bank of a money transfer and in the same time Yeo Ui-joo (Chae Jung-an) appears and tells him to make sure to pay her back with interests.

Uneasy about Kim Ga-on’s (Park Jin-young/formerly Jinyoung of GOT7) actions, Yoon Soo-hyun (Park Gyu-young)  meets professor Min Jeong-ho (Ahn Nae-sang) at the café of this library in episode 12 of The Devil Judge (악마판사) (tvN, 2021) to seek advice – but instead, breaks down in tears.

The boyband Shax has a press conference at this location in episode 2 of Imitation (Imiteisyeon/이미테이션) (KBS2, 2021).

This library appears as the bookstore that Lee Eun-o (Kim Ji-won) is seen at in episode 14 of Lovestruck in the City (도시남녀의 사랑법) — Series 1: City Couple’s Way of Love (KakaoTV/Netflix, 2020-21).

Kang Yeo-joo (Cho Yeo-jeong) gives her ‘Chilling Book Concert’ at this venue in episode 1 of Cheat On Me, If You Can (바람피면 죽는다) (KBS2, 2020-21). When attacked by antis, Cha Soo-ho (Kim Young-dae) sweeps in and saves her from the scene.

Kang Hae-ra (Kim Sa-rang) has her book signing event at this library’s café in episode 1 of Get Revenge/Revenge/The Goddess of Revenge (Boksuhaera/복수해라) (TV Chosun, 2020-21) — Please note: this venue’s exterior is filmed somewhere else.

Lee Tae-su (Lee Chang-hoon) of A June Entertainment meets up at this library’s café with two journalists, Kim Su-man (Bae Yoon-kyoung) and Yoon Tae-ho (Kim Tae-hoon), in episode 8 of Record of Youth/The Moment/Youth Record (청춘기록) (tvN, 2020); to meet up only with Su-man a little later again.

Kyung Woo-yeon (Shin Ye-eun) works as a server (one of her single day gig jobs) during the Eunyu Publishing Company’s 20th Anniversary Celebration in episode 1 of More Than Friends/Number Of Cases (Kyeongueui Su/경우의 수) (JTBC, 2020).

A time-traveler knocks into a patron (seemingly his past self) along the shelves of this library in episode 6 of Alice (Aelliseu/앨리스)(SBS, 2020).

When waking up out of his coma in episode 14 of Was It Love/Did We Love?/We, Were in Love (우리, 사랑했을까) (JTBC, 2020), Oh Dae-o (Son Ho-jun) apologizes to Noh Ae-jung (Song Ji-hyo) and recapitulates how different their lives could have been and images her giving an TV interview at this library as a famous PD.

In episode 15 of My Unfamiliar Family ([아는 건 별로 없지만] 가족입니다) (tvN, 2020), Kim Eun-hee (Han Ye-ri) attends a seminar on how to become an independent publisher at this library and Gun-joo (Shin Dong-wook) turns out to be the speaker. They chat after the seminar, Gun-joo mentioning that he caught up on to her plan which she refutes. He then suggests that she should apply for an educational program in US before quitting her job. They headed outside and Gun-joo brings up that week with Ha-ra, worrying that Eun-hee might feel bad if he did not clarify.

Lee Gon (Lee Minho) and Jeong Tae-Eul (Kim Go-Eun) recall the time when she researched parallel worlds in this library in episode 15 of The King: Eternal Monarch (더킹:영원의 군주) (SBS, 2020), and finally believed his story that they can exist.

In episode 3 of The World of The Married/A World of Married Couple (부부의 세계) (JTBC, 2020), Sun-woo (Kin Hee-ae) and Da-kyung (Han So-hee) meet outside this building after bumping into each other while paying for the books they got.

After completing a photoshoot, Yeo Ha-jin (Moon Ga-young) waits for her sister and manager Ha-kyung (Kim Seul-gi) to pick her and her agency director up at the driveway of this building in episode 18 (full episode 9) of Find Me in Your Memory (그 남자의 기억법) (MBC, 2020). Ha-jin gets in as the car arrives — but the driver takes off before the agency director does. Moments later, a breathless Ha-kyung comes running from the car park yelling at everyone on site to stop the car.

Koo Chan-sung (Yeo Jin-goo) meets up with Kim Yoo-na (Kang Mi-na) at this library in final episode 16 of Hotel Del Luna (호텔 델루나) (tvN, 2019).

Webtoon artist Kim gives a press conference at this venue in episode 7 of Search: WWW/Type in Search Word: WWW (검색어를 입력하세요: WWW).

The exterior of this building appears as ‘Gyeoroo Publishing’ company at which Cha Eun-ho (Lee Jong-suk) works as chief editor in Romance is a Bonus Book/Romance is a Supplement/How To Publish Love (로맨스는 별책부록) (tvN, 2019). The car park of this place is also seen in episode 2, when Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young) gets into Eun-ho’s car after attending an interview at the company. Other characters also come here — like like Ji Seo-joon (Wi Ha-joon) in episode 7, who waits outside the office for Dan-i, to take her out on a ‘date’.

Anchor Kim Hye-won (Na Hae-ryung) has a book signing event here in episode 11 of Clean With Passion For Now (일단 뜨겁게 청소하라) (JTBC, 2018-19) to which Jang Sun-gyeol (Yoon Gyun-sang) is invited. Coming late to the event, he tells her clearly that he likes somebody else.

This is the library that is part of the art center that Lee Young-joon’s (Park Seo-joon) company built and is planning to open soon in Why Secretary Kim/What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (김비서가 왜 그럴까) (tvN, 2018). In episode 4, he and Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young) looked around the library when the electricity went off. They sit for a while and she reads her favorite book. As Young-joon holds the phone for her as a pseudo flashlight, he asks her, “Have I ever told you that you’re pretty?”

It is here that Oh Ha-ra (Han Ye-ri) discovers that swindler Sa Do-chan and prosecutor Baek Jun-su (both roles played by Jang Geun-seok) are spitting images of each other, in episodes 20-21 of Switch/Switch: Change The World (스위치 – 세상을 바꿔라) (SBS, 2018).

An evil demon operates from this library and entices children through children books to leave their homes and come towards her in episode 9 of Hwayuki/A Korean Odyssey (화유기) (tvN, 2017-18). She does the same with Jin Sun-mi (Oh Yeon-seo) and Son Oh-gong (Lee Seung-gi) saves her in episode 10.

Kim Min-kyu (Yoo Seung-ho) and Aji3/Jo Ji-ah (Chae Soo-bin) come here on their last ‘date’ in episode 19 of I’m Not A Robot (로봇이 아니야) (MBC, 2017-18). Aji3/Ji-ah picks up the book “The Velveteen Rabbit ” and tells Min-kyu the story. In episode 20, Min-kyu comes back here to read the book while remembering Aji3/Ji-ah.

Lee Mi-sook’s (Myung Se-bin) husband, a university professor, holds a public conference here celebrating his new book that speaks to a revolution of the education system in episode 1 of Avengers Social Club (부암동 복수자들) (tvN, 2017). Kim Jung-hye (Lee Yo-won) is also present and noticed that Mi-sook is abused by her husband and asks her if she wants to get revenge; a first step towards the Buam-dong Social Revenge Club.

Choi Han-joo (Kang Kyung-jun) runs behind and tries to stop Kim Tae-ki (Kim Jae-hyun) who enters into this building in episode 1 of All Kinds of Daughters-in-Law (별별 며느리) (MBC, 2017). Han-too suspects Tae-ki to hide in the women’s rest room and this is where he encounters Hwang Eun-byul (Ham Eun-jung).

Han Se-joo (Yoo Ah-in) and author rival Baek Tae-min (Kwak Si-yang) film a commercial for books here in episode 3 of Chicago Typewriter (시카고 타자기) (tvN, 2017).

Han Sung-joon (Lee Tae-hwan) brings his crush and aspiring writer Oh Dong-hee (Park Eun-bin) here in episode 27 of Father I’ll Take Care of You (아버님 제가 모실게요) (MBC, 2016-17) to diminish her fear of writing. He ends up reading his favorite short story “The Stars” by Alphonse Daudet to her while she falls asleep on his shoulder. And then the first (real) kiss in episode 30 when Dong-hee and Seong-jun spend a night at this library — after she has heard that she has lost the writing competition and hides here out of shame. Seong-jun finds her, cheers her up and they end up kissing. These two are adorable.

Lee hae-joon (Jung Ji-hoon/Rain) comes running to this library in episode 14 of Come Back Mister/Please Come Back, Mister/Come Back, Ahjussi (돌아와요 아저씨) (SBS, 2016) to meet X who was revealed to be the chairman’s interpreter.

This is the office library in She Was Pretty (그녀는 예뻤다) (MBC, 2015) and where Kim Hye-jin (Hwang Jung-eum) and Ji Sung-joon (Park Seo-joon) read the same children’s book from Hye-jin’s fathers publishing company one after the other, without noticing the other is in the same place in episode 3.

The head quarters of the magazine ‘Trouble Maker’ in A Witch’s Love/Witch’s Romance (마녀의 연애) (tvN, 2014) are located in the part of this building that houses the IKB Bank [IBK기업은행 파주출판도시출장소] — as seen in episode 1 and 5 for instance.

Also seen in episode 10 of The Heavenly Idol/Holy Idol (성스러운 아이돌) (tvN, 2023); in episode 1 of The Empire (Di Empaieo: Beob-ui Jeguk/디 엠파이어: 법의 제국) (JTBC, 2022); in episode 1 of Rugal (루갈) (Netflix/OCN, 2020); Love Revolution (연애혁명) (Naver, 2020), episode 2 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (사이코지만 괜찮아) (tvN, 2020); Memorist (메모리스트) (tvN, 2020); Hundred Million Stars from the Sky / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (하늘에서 내리는 일억개의 별)(tvN, 2018).

This is seen as the exterior of the building that Song Si-on (Chu Young-woo) has his dance audition in episode 7 of You Make Me Dance (유메이크미댄스) (Viki, 2021).

As seen in episode 12 of Closer to Uijeongbu than Sadang/Between Love and Friendship/Always a Boy Friend, Never a Boyfriend S3 (사당보다 먼 의정부보다 가까운 시즌3) (Whynot, 2018).

Appears in the teaser “Memorials | 출사표 [Teaser-Ver2]” of Memorials/Into the Ring /The Ballot (출사표) (KBS2, 2020).

— Girls Generation (소녀시대): ‘Into The New World (다시 만난 세계)‘ (2011)

Forest of Wisdom [지혜의숲], opened in June 2014, is a venue —some call it an “experimental space” others compare it to an “vast interactive artwork”— centered around books known for its signature floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that are filled with more than 200,000 books. The books, however are not for sale, not catalogued and cannot be loaned out.

This space is located in Paju Book City in Paju’s [파주시] neighborhood Munbal [Munbal-dong/문발동] –part of its administrative neighborhood Gyoha [Gyoha-dong/교하동], just opposite Hesse Boulangerie 152 [헤세브랑제리152] and Bookcafe Noon [북카페눈].

Address
145 Hoedong-gil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
경기도 파주시 회동길 145
(문발동 524-3)
Geolocation: 37.708343, 126.686952
Geolocation of car park: 37.707731, 126.687126, opposite Book Cafe Noon (북카페눈)

Getting here
Hapjeong Station [합정역], Seoul Subway Line 2 and 6, Exit 1
▶ Head to the Hapjeong Station bus stop [합정역 정류장] (14-895)
▶ Take bus 2200 for 5 stops (approx. 29 mins) to the Eunseok-gyo Crossing bus stop [은석교사거리 정류장] (30-004)
▶ From there, it’s a 2-minute walk to the library.

— submitted by Marion KDL, updated by Mich KDL; last updated 19/03/2023
— Photos taken by © Thom Musni, March 2019, © sianiam, 2019 and © Mich KDL, October 2019
— I’m Not A Robot added by deanekitty29
— Why Secretary Kim added by Toni
— It’s Okay to Not Be Okay; Hotel Del Luna, Romance is a Bonus Book added by Thom Musni
— My Unfamiliar Family; The World of The Married added by Chelle
— The King: Eternal Monarch added by sarahms
— Work Later Drink Now 2 added by GGRIP