Sociologist's 'library without walls' fights social isolation, depopulation
As social isolation and rural depopulation deepen amid Korea’s demographic crisis, sociologist Kim Seung-soo is transforming a simple book-sharing initiative into a nationwide community-building campaign. In 2012, Kim launched “Knock Knock Library,” an online platform that connects neighbors and allows them to knock on each other’s doors to borrow books in his neighborhood in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Since then, the grassroots movement has evolved into a vibrant community platform fostering stronger neighborhood ties through shared activities. The platform currently has 30 to 50 daily users, and the range of shared items has expanded well beyond books to include seasonal treats like freshly boiled corn and kimchi, as well as children’s clothing, travel gear and more. It has also become a hub for community potlucks, drawing sessions, running clubs and other small-scale local gatherings. The idea has resonated far beyond Paju, inspiring residents in more than 130 cities and smaller towns to start their own versions of the network. Participants now include neighbors from Seoul, Dae
