Libraries provide respite for homesick Koreans
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For Koreans living in Indonesia, a Korean library is not so much a place to satisfy their reading habit, but a cure for homesickness.
"I always feel at home when I'm reading old Korean literature I get from the library ... I get carried away with the stories," said a forty-something Korean who was strolling around Yorin Kuibang, one of the two Korean libraries at the Karawaci Office Park in Tangerang.
Yorin Kuibang is located in Block A of the "Korean village", while Kuchibang is located 50 meters away in Block B.
The two private libraries exclusively collect books and literature in Korean.
Nearly all of their collections are leisure books like Korean comics, novels and old literature, as well as translated western novels.
According to the visitor, who wanted his identity withheld, a Korean library was the first place he looked for after moving into his apartment in Tangerang in 2000.
"Reading is my thing. Without a book is like living in hell. And reading Korean books may also cure my homesickness," said the man, who said that he did not read English well enough to really enjoy it.
The owner of Kuchibang library, David Choi, established the library in 2003 to "channel my own interest in books". He used to spend over Rp 3 million (US$333) a month borrowing books from other libraries.
"By establishing my own library, I can read as much as I want without spending any money. In addition, my books can also be read by others," said David, who said that he had read all 30,000 titles in his library at least three times.
Choi, who is also a president director of a fiber company, the library cost him approximately US$20,000 for the furnishings and to procurement of the books from South Korea.
He said his library usually averaged about Rp 5 million in rental fees per month, which was roughly equal to the operational costs of the library.
"I do not make money from the library. I have my own business to support my family," said David, who has been living in Indonesia for 10 years and has a four-year-old son.
Melani, a librarian at Yorin Kuibang, said that there were at least 30 visitors each day in the library, which is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., even on holidays.
A member has to put down a deposit of Rp 100,000 and pay borrowing fees ranging from Rp 3,000 to Rp 8,000 per book.
"The number of visitors can reach over 100 in a day, particularly on rainy days," she said.