“Connecting through books, from children to adults” ... Lotte Home Shopping opens its 102nd Small Library

[Financial News] Lotte Home Shopping has opened its 102nd Small Library in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, for use by everyone from children to middle-aged and older adults. It will operate as a multipurpose cultural space for reading, learning and interaction among local residents.
According to industry sources on the 5th, Lotte Home Shopping opened the Small Library No. 102 at Gangbuk Youth Culture and Information Library in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, the previous day. The opening ceremony was attended by Lotte Home Shopping CEO Kim Jae-gyeom; Lee Dong-gyu, head of the company’s Communications Division; National Assembly member Han Min-soo; Gangbuk District Mayor Jeong Chang-su; Seoul Metropolitan Council member Kwak In-hye; Gangbuk District Council member Moon Hye-won; Kim Yun-gi, chairman of the Gangbuk-gu Urban Management Corporation; and Hong Bong-sik, secretary-general of the Salvation Army, among others.
The 102nd location spans approximately 149 square meters. Moving beyond the traditional library space centered on shelving books, it is designed to let local residents—from children and teenagers to middle-aged and older adults—enjoy reading, learning and cultural activities together.
Furnishings such as bookshelves and desks made by recycling 300 kg of discarded banners were used to create the space. The design also incorporates Bellygom, Lotte Home Shopping’s own character.
To mark the opening, hands-on programs were held for local residents to make eco-friendly kitchen detergent and shampoo bars. Lee Nak-jun, a former doctor and author of the original web novel “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” gave a humanities lecture on the theme “Growth Comes from Trial and Error.”
Lotte Home Shopping’s Small Library project is a corporate social responsibility initiative launched in 2013 in partnership with the Salvation Army Korea Territory. Starting with its first location in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the project has established 102 libraries nationwide to date. Cumulative donations total 3 billion won, 200,000 books have been provided, and the number of child users has reached 4.8 million. Since this year, the company has been stepping up environmental improvements and ongoing maintenance at existing facilities alongside the creation of new spaces.
“I hope the 102nd Small Library will become an open cultural space where people from different generations, from children to middle-aged and older adults, can read, learn and communicate together,” said Lotte Home Shopping CEO Kim Jae-gyeom. “We will continue to expand the role and value of the Small Library by creating customized spaces that reflect local communities and the characteristics of their users.”
[email protected] Kim Hyun-ji Reporter