10% Cashback on Book Purchases: Gwangmyeong’s Innovative Library Program for Young Adults

A, who spent months drifting from café to café while preparing for a job, has recently started clocking in at a Gwangmyeong City library.

There, instead of paying for expensive coffee, they find a pleasant place to work — and if they buy a book they’ve been wanting, they can even get cash back.

Once simply book-lending institutions, libraries are evolving into mixed-use cultural spaces aimed at people in their 20s and 30s.

▲“Buy a book and get money back” — an unprecedented perk

The biggest buzz has been around a program that refunds 10% of book purchases. When customers buy books at Gwangmyeong-area bookstores and pay with the local community currency, they receive 10% of the purchase amount back as cashback.

Residents can receive up to 10,000 KRW (about $7.50) per month. With incentives for topping up local currency, the effective discount can reach roughly 20%. Young people juggling saving and reading have been praising the practical benefit and spreading the word.

▲Libraries as workspaces… “No more worrying about café etiquette”

Gwangmyeong City is investing in tailored space innovations at each library. Gwangmyeong Library added a makerspace equipped with 3D tools and a “youth shared space,” turning it into a base for startup founders and freelancers. Cheolsan Library supports creators through an arts studio called “Siseon,” where musicians can rehearse and makers can produce videos. Haan Library created cozy “nooks” and a reading-camping zone — Instagram-ready spots that offer both relaxation and inspiration.

▲“A book with my name on it”… support for author debuts

The city is also backing a generation eager to create, not just consume. Soha Library runs “Today a Citizen, Tomorrow an Author,” a project that guides residents through planning, design, publishing, and distribution. Anyone with a manuscript can work with professionals to make their formal debut as an author.

▲One-minute stop on the commute — smart libraries open 24/7

To make libraries more accessible to busy commuters, Gwangmyeong installed “smart libraries” at eight major hubs, including Gwangmyeong Sageori Station and Cheolsan Station; they operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Commuters can borrow or return books right at the subway station after work, making these smart libraries a convenient stop for young people trying to squeeze more into their days.

At a press briefing on the 21st, Kim Myung-ok, head of Gwangmyeong City’s Lifelong Learning Business Division, said, “Libraries are no longer just study spaces; they are platforms that support citizens’ growth. We will expand comprehensive library services that every generation, including Millennials and Gen Z, can experience in daily life.”

/Reporter Kim Young-rae yrk@incheonilbo.com