If you’ve been on TikTok or Instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen pictures and videos of the Starfield Library. A huge glass skylight letting in rays of natural light while rows of books aesthetically adorn winding, curvy shelves. But there are somethings every traveler needs to know about this photo hot spot before they plan their visit.
Here’s everything you need to know before you visit the Starfield Library.
Where is the Starfield Library?
The Starfield Library is located in the COEX mall by Samsung Station on subway line no. 2 in Seoul. Once you arrive at Samsung Station, follow the signs towards COEX mall (towards exit 5 and 6). Follow the blue track, cross through the open courtyard and into COEX mall. From there, keep following the track to the Starfield Library. You can’t miss it.
If you find yourself in the Hyundai mall, you’ve made a wrong turn, but the malls are all connected so follow the signs and you’ll get there.
What is the Starfield Library?
Like the name implies, it’s an actual library. The first floor is filled with books, magazines, ebook readers and more. There are plenty of places to sit down and rest including study desks with outlets to charge your phones. Unlike most libraries, you can’t check out books from the Starfield Library. So patrons are expected to leave their books and magazines back where they got them or on book carts placed throughout the area.
The library looks amazing in photos thanks to its unique design. There are always tourists and travelers posing for photos and taking videos at all hours of the day.
Is the Starfield Library worth visiting?
Yes and no. For most travelers, the Starfield Library is a photo op and nothing more. If you’re exploring the mall, it’s a great place to rest your feet and take in the view. For visitors who go to the library expecting an experience all its own, disappointment abounds. So, do some shopping at the COEX mall or the Hyundai mall next door. Better yet, catch a movie at the MEGABOX theater or head to one of my favorite sundae gukbap restaurants nearby for lunch.
Tips for visiting the Starfield Library.
If you have a minute, actually browse through the library. There are magazines in multiple languages on the first floor while the second floor houses specialty books. I tend to spend a lot of time in the art section.
Depending on the season, there’s a huge art installation in the center of the library. In the winter, it’s usually a Christmas tree, but it’s also been an artificial garden and a sprawing tree made of reclaimed wood. It’s well-curated so take a moment to breathe it all in.
Stop by the café on the second floor and try the Kyoto latte from %Arabica. It’s popular with local office workers and tends to have a line around lunch time. Stop by again after 2 PM and the wait will be considerably shorter. If nothing else, it’ll give you a place to sit if the library seats are all taken.
Don’t dawdle. The Starfield Library isn’t an attraction, it’s a short stop on your way somewhere else. There isn’t much to see or do here, so instead spend your time shopping in the mall or browsing through the shops. It’s much better use of your time, I promise.
If you’re looking for other photogenic spots in Korea, check out our list below:
