A cinema is a really familiar cultural space that everyone might visits at least once. Theaters once looked very similar to each other and only had a few differences. New things are happening to the uniform appearances of theaters, though. Little libraries have moved into cinemas to furnish film audiences with new cultural spaces and lives. The Argus visited three cinemas which possess own little libraries.

Myeong-dong Station CGV Cine Library

The CGV Cine Library is located near Myeong-dong Station. Since there are two CGVs near Myeong-dong Station, you should distinguish between the CGV Myeong-dong Station and CGV Myeong-dong. CGV created it by renovating a theater and opened it in April 2015. It has a lot of books related to films. You can enter by showing a movie ticket stub from the CGV Myeong-dong Station, paying with 1,000 CJ points, or being a member of the CGV Art House Club or CGV VIP. The facility has a maximum occupancy of 50 individuals and a minimum age of 14 to maintain a pleasant environment.

Although only one theater was renovated, the whole floor is allocated to the Cine Library. When you enter the library, after satisfying yourself with the somewhat unique conditions, you can see bookshelves along the stairs to the entrance. As it is a complete reading place, the library projects an atmosphere of calm antiquity. You can comfortably and conveniently read books as reading spaces on the stairs are set up with sofas and individual desk lamps. All books are related to films and categorized into three sections. The first section, Section C stands for “Creativity in Cinema” and has many original movies and the second section, Section G, or “the Cinema Guide section”, consists of film-related books dealing with scenarios and conti books in which scripts and concepts of all scenes are recorded. The third section, Section V named “Visuality & Arts” contains books on the arts and humanities that inspire films. It is easy to find the books you want to read or are interested in as the books are arranged neatly. One male customer said, “It is good to read books there as it has a good atmosphere. I can find books related to films there that I could not find in other places.” On the other hand, one female high school student said, “I am sorry that I had to meet several conditions to enter. Because of that, it did not seem to be a completely open space.”

Sangbong Station Megabox Book Lounge

Sangbong Station Megabox is located near Jungnang Station and Sangbong Station. The Book Lounge is at the side of the rest area next to the ticket office, and there are no entry requirements.

The Book Lounge is not a big library, but it has lots of books. As the Sangbong Station Megabox has only one rest area, audience members consequentially see the Book Lounge. People look around and freely read books as the lounge is completely open. Unfortunately, the lounge seems like it is not properly maintained. Megabox needs to add more books or remodel. An elementary school student said, “I like the Book Lounge because people, regardless of age or gender, can read books and take a rest.” A university student said, “I used to read books during my spare time when I was in the cinema. It is good that people can read books when they have some time.”

Coex Megabox Manhwabang Under the Stairs

Manhwabang, a comic book library, is located under the stairs at Coex Megabox in Coex Mall and opened in August 2015. It has comic books that are related to films. You can enter by paying a Megabox membership fee of 1,000 points or by being a VIP member. There are a maximum number of attendees and also an age requirement. You must be at least 13 years old to use the Manhwabang.

Manhwabang Under the Stairs is literally under the stairs heading to the cinema. Unlike CGV Myeong-dong Station Cine Library, this library only has comic books that are concerned with movies as its name suggests. Compared to typical libraries, Manhwabang creates a light mood in that it has comic books only and an infrastructure where it is possible to see the exciting atmosphere of the cinema through the panes of glass. Seats fill fast as there are more users than at other cinema libraries; however, the facility is a little small. The library received so many favorable comments that a Manhwabang Under the Stairs has also opened at the Mok-dong Megabaox.

Each cinema underwent various unusual trials to create its cultural reading space. The spaces appealed to people as they can enjoy another aspect of culture other than movies at the cinema.