Samsung Library

Yesterday was the first day that I spent some time in Yonsei University's Samsung Library, which gets its name because it was partly funded by Samsung. I've been to the library before, but not the media complex. Professor Chun, who teaches my Religion and Culture 1 class is out of town this week at a conference in Germany, so he scheduled our class to watch a movie which we'll discuss when he gets back. We were told to report to the 2nd floor of the Samsung Library where a media specialist will set up the movie for us. She directed our class to a separate room down the hall and I was quite stunned! It was basically a mini-movie theater! There were a bunch of them down this hallway and it was quite fascinating to see. The class watched the movie in this theater, comfy seats and all, the only thing that was missing was the popcorn!

The movie itself was interesting. It was a Korean film called "The Way Home" and it was the first Korean movie that I've seen since I've been here. It was subtitled of course, but after a few minutes I got used it. The film was about a young boy from Seoul, maybe 7 or 8, whose mother brings him to live at his Grandmother's house in the country, while she looks for a job. The boy is rude and ungrateful and treats his grandmother horribly, but eventually he begins to learn compassion as he realizes how his actions affect their daily lives.

But more about the beautiful library! The Central Library, which is YU's original library, is also very nice, but not nearly as amazing as the Samsung Library. The two libraries are connected, and the link I posted below gives you get a "virtual tour" of the library complex. The new library is state-of-the-art in every way, from the high-speed glass elevators, to the touchscreen monitors, even the rooftop cafe. The elevators are almost completely made of glass, as is the wall facing the outside; standing in the elevator you can see the outside all the way up and down, and you can also see each floor you pass. Very cool!
In order to use most of the facilities in the library, you must first register and make a reservation using the touchscreen monitors in the lobby. Although I've heard it's very easy to do, I haven't mastered this part yet.

My Sports Medicine group members showed me the rooftop cafe last week when we were finishing up our project. Also, that happens to be the exact location I was in when I first received a facebook friend request from Grandma Judy! I got so excited, it's a good thing I didn't fall off the roof! The cafe is very nice; coffee and waffles (the Koreans' favorite), and bagels and specialty drinks, in a beautiful glass enclosed room as well as tables and chairs outside on the roof, giving you a great view of campus. Everyday I wish I could put all of you guys in my suitcase so you could see all the wonderful things I'm experiencing! Outside view of the Samsung Library:


Take a look at this!
http://library.yonsei.ac.kr/main/sub.do?menuCode=0019