Gwangju City Promotes Establishment of Living Culture Centers Across Various Areas

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 22nd that it is promoting the Living Culture Center project to create various facilities such as libraries, gyms, daycare centers, and residential parking lots in one complex space as part of the Living SOC Complex Project.

The Living SOC Complex Project is a new concept of infrastructure project that gathers facilities that enhance public convenience in daily life, such as culture, sports, childcare, welfare, and education, in one place according to government policy, thereby improving residents' convenience in daily life through cultural and welfare services.

Last year, Gwangju promoted the Living Culture Center project in five areas including Gyelim-dong in Dong-gu, Bongseon-dong in Nam-gu, Sinyong-dong in Buk-gu, and Sinchang-dong in Gwangsan-gu. This year, the project is being expanded to five additional areas: Yudeok-dong in Seo-gu, Juwol-dong, Bangnim-dong, Sajik-dong in Nam-gu, and Usan-dong in Buk-gu.

The project cost is split 50% each between national and local government funds, with a total of 5.6 billion KRW invested last year and 4.4 billion KRW planned for this year.

The Living Culture Centers will consist of ▲ encounter spaces where residents can freely communicate, such as book cafes, exhibitions, and small presentations ▲ soundproof rooms equipped for instrument practice and choir ▲ vibration-proof spaces for theater, dance, and yoga ▲ wooden floor spaces equipped with full-length mirrors ▲ and specialized facilities, providing spaces for residents to voluntarily and routinely participate in activities. The centers are scheduled to open progressively by 2023 according to the scale of the complex projects in each region.

Gwangju expects that once the Living Culture Centers open, residents within walking distance in each area will use them for culture, welfare, convenience, and leisure, contributing to generational integration, resident communication, harmony, community formation, and balanced regional development by resolving socially disadvantaged areas lacking Living SOC.

Kim Jun-young, Director of the City’s Culture, Tourism, and Sports Office, said, “We are establishing Living Culture Centers as part of the Living SOC Complex Project. We will focus on discovering new projects next year as a resident-centered project that improves citizens’ quality of life in daily life, creates balanced regional development, and generates a triple effect including job creation.”