Seoul Metropolitan Government to Create an 'Outdoor Library' in Banda Aceh, Indonesia... "The First Space to Accommodate 2,000 People"

[Jakarta, Indonesia = Aulia Maulida Hamdani] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will create Indonesia's first outdoor library in Banda Aceh as part of an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project.
According to local media on the 25th, a Seoul Metropolitan Government delegation met with Banda Aceh Mayor Iliza Sa'aduddin Djamal at Banda Aceh City Hall the previous day and discussed ways for the two cities to cooperate on the outdoor library project.
The outdoor library to be built by the Seoul Metropolitan Government is tied to Banda Aceh City's selection as Indonesia's representative city in the 'Seoul ODA Challenge Project 2026,' which involves 40 cities from 28 countries. Through this project, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to provide technical support and related equipment for the library's construction.
Lee Jeong-gu, head of international cooperation at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "We have selected Bustanussalatin Park in Banda Aceh as the candidate site for the outdoor library and plan to create a space that can accommodate about 2,000 people." He added, "The design will naturally combine reading and relaxation, and it will be arranged with separate areas for men and women to reflect local customs and culture."
The outdoor library will operate every weekend for a total of eight weeks, with a different theme each week featuring workshops, reading programs, competitions, and performances of arts and Acehnese traditional culture. The goal is to turn it into a civic space where local residents can enjoy books and culture together, beyond simply serving as a reading venue.
Mayor Iliza said, "This will be Indonesia's first outdoor library to receive direct support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government." She added, "I hope this project will encourage young people and citizens to get closer to books and enjoy reading." He also emphasized, "By combining the concept of an outdoor library with today's lifestyle, we can increase public interest in reading."

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