Seoul's bustling Seongsu neighborhood offers a peaceful retreat for book lovers and remote workers at an innovative collaboration between robotic cafe Lounge (x) and Korea's leading bookstore chain, Kyobo Book Center. This unique venue combines cutting-edge technology with literary culture, providing visitors with curated books, calming interiors, and freshly brewed coffee made by robots.
The book lounge operates with an affordable and flexible pricing system designed for various needs. A two-hour pass including one cafe drink costs 8,000 won, while extended stays are available with four-hour passes at 14,000 won and six-hour passes at 19,000 won, both including additional drink coupons. Guests can browse and read books on-site, enjoy light snacks, and participate in interactive journaling activities.
One of the venue's most attractive features is its 24-hour operation schedule, making it an ideal destination for night owls or early risers seeking to escape crowds and focus on reading or work. The space merges Lounge (x)'s advanced hardware with Kyobo's literary expertise, creating a beautifully designed environment that encourages both creativity and concentration. The book lounge is located at 12 Seongsuil-ro 10-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.
Meanwhile, autumn visitors to Seoul can experience one of the city's most stunning seasonal transformations at Haneul Park, which sprawls across the crest of World Cup Park in Mapo-gu. This 98-meter hilltop, remarkably built on a former landfill, has become an engineering marvel and one of Seoul's premier destinations for viewing silver grass fields. Each fall, acres of eulalia grass turn golden-silver, their feathery plumes catching light and breeze as they ripple like waves across the landscape.
The annual Seoul Silver Grass Festival runs from October 18-24 this year, themed "Silver Grass Dyed in Light." This year's edition emphasizes evening spectacle with media facades and landscape lighting scattered throughout the grounds. The festival features busking performances during afternoons and hands-on workshops where visitors can try crafts with pressed flowers and calligraphy. The opening ceremony takes place on October 18 at 6 p.m., featuring projections and live music performances.
Beyond the festival attractions, Haneul Park rewards visitors with panoramic views stretching across the Han River to iconic landmarks including Namsan Tower and Bukhansan Mountain. The park is accessible via World Cup Stadium Station on Subway Line 6, followed by a 20-minute walk, or visitors can take a shuttle service to avoid the staircase climb. The park is located at 95 Haneulgongwon-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
For those interested in Seoul's historical transformation, Culture Station Seoul 284 offers a unique time-travel experience. This former train station, built during the Japanese colonial period from 1910-1945, is marking the 100th anniversary of the building by returning to its early 20th-century appearance, when trains departed from there on journeys across Eurasia. The exhibition "A Century and a Day" has meticulously recreated historical spaces including the passenger waiting room, the station master's office, and a VIP room.
The cultural space has transformed various areas for contemporary use while maintaining historical authenticity. The lobby has been converted into an open space where visitors can grab a beer from Seoul Brewery. The former luncheon bar on the second floor, named "Grill," which could seat approximately 200 people in the old days, now serves as a library for the exhibition with shelves stocked with books written during that historical period or influenced by that era.
Additional exhibitions enhance the historical experience, with seven contemporary artists displaying works on the first floor alongside a photographic display illustrating the historic context of Seoul and the station from 1910 to the early 2000s. The old station was closed in 2009 for extensive restoration and reopened in 2011 as a dedicated cultural space. Culture Station Seoul 284 is located at 1 Tongil-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul.
