Instead of Subscriptions: Free Public E-books and Courses

The diagram below is a self-made illustration, not a real screen.

Before paying for e-book or course subscriptions, check what public institutions offer for free.

Who this suits

• Anyone cutting e-book or audiobook subscriptions
• Anyone who wants free university lectures or online courses

1. Seoul Library e-library

• Who: Seoul Library full members. Seoul residents and people working or studying in Seoul can sign up and verify online.
• What: Korean e-books (owned and subscription), Korean audiobooks, English e-books
• Korean e-books/audiobooks: 20 items combined per person (incl. 5 holds), 15-day loans, one 7-day renewal, automatic return
• English e-books: 3 per person, 15 days (one 7-day renewal from 3 days before due)
• How: after login, search → borrow → read or listen in My Library. The first time, log in once on PC, mobile web, or the Seoul Library app to link your account.

2. Gyeonggi Library e-book service (formerly Gyeonggi Cyber Library)

• Owned e-books: 10 per person, 7 days.
• It has owned, subscription, foreign e-book, and audiobook sections. Check eligibility in the site’s usage guide.

3. National Library of Korea digitized materials

• Originals whose copyright has expired or that are licensed are free for anyone (old books, old maps, early newspapers, classic Korean novels, etc.).
• Copyrighted items can be viewed only at partner public or university libraries.

4. KOCW (open university lectures)

• Free lectures shared voluntarily by universities and institutions, as video, audio, or PDF depending on the course.
• For “certificate” lectures, enroll after login and watch at least 95% to print a confirmation. It is not credit or course completion.

5. K-MOOC (Korean MOOC)

• Free for every Korean citizen on the K-MOOC site.
• Courses come from universities and research institutes, with Korean and English subtitles.
• Score above a course’s threshold to get a completion certificate.

Common mistakes

• Paying for a subscription without checking your local library’s e-books
• Treating a KOCW confirmation as credit
• Expecting every National Library original to open at home

Checklist

• ☐ Find the library e-book services your residence or workplace qualifies for
• ☐ Compare with subscriptions you already pay for
• ☐ Search KOCW and K-MOOC for courses
• ☐ If you need a certificate, check the K-MOOC course’s threshold

To trim paid subscriptions too, see our guide to cutting subscriptions and phone plans.

We also have a $4.99 PDF guide that collects more everyday money-saving tips. Take a look if it’s useful →