The Starfield Library is the centrepiece of the cavernous COEX Mall in Samseong-dong: a free, open public library set in the mall's main atrium, with three reading nooks dominated by shelves that climb more than thirteen metres toward a skylit ceiling. Anyone can pull a book or magazine and read in the armchairs, and the space hosts talks, author events, and seasonal displays.
It is as much a piece of theatre as a library — the towering stacks have made it one of the most photographed spots in Gangnam — but it also works as a genuine refuge from the underground shopping warren around it. Combine it with Bongeunsa, directly across the road, and the COEX Aquarium downstairs for a full day under one roof.