Jeonbuk Province, World Calligraphy Biennale Hall Construction 'Smooth Sailing'

Targeting Opening in 2024 with 1 Basement Floor and 4 Above-Ground Floors

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho] Jeonbuk Province announced on the 5th that the World Calligraphy Biennale Hall construction project, which has been promoted as a key project since 2020, is expected to proceed smoothly as it completed the feasibility study this year and recently passed the Jeollabuk-do Provincial Council's public property review.

According to the province, the World Calligraphy Biennale Hall is a project promoted based on the "Calligraphy Promotion Act" enacted in 2019 to promote calligraphy culture at the national level.

Following the passage of the Calligraphy Promotion Act, there has been a consistent call, mainly from calligraphers and calligraphy organizations, for the establishment of a hub space to promote and develop calligraphy culture, which embodies our spiritual culture.

Accordingly, Jeonbuk Province decided to build the Biennale Hall as a national symbol and promotion space for Korean calligraphy and has been promoting the project starting with consultations with central government ministries such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Jeonbuk is a region that produced masters representing Korean calligraphy, from the Joseon Dynasty figures Changgang Jo Sok, Songjae Song Il-jung, to Changam Lee Sam-man, Seokjeong Lee Jeong-jik, Byeokha Jo Ju-seung, Yujae Song Gi-myeon, Seolsong Choi Gyu-sang, Seokjeon Hwang Uk, Gangam Song Seong-yong, and Yeosan Kwon Gap-seok.

Additionally, it is considered the optimal location for development as a hub for promoting Korean calligraphy culture, having hosted the country's first Calligraphy Biennale and accumulated 25 years of experience and a solid global network.

The World Calligraphy Biennale Hall will be constructed on the current site of the Korean Sori Culture Center with a budget of 31.1 billion KRW (21.8 billion KRW national funds, 9.3 billion KRW provincial funds), consisting of one basement floor and four above-ground floors (8,533㎡), aiming to open in 2024.

This year, feasibility studies and public property reviews for the Biennale Hall construction were conducted, and administrative procedures are underway with plans for design competitions and basic and detailed design services next year, aiming to start construction in 2023 and complete it in 2024.

Once completed, the World Calligraphy Biennale Hall is expected to serve as a national symbolic space representing Korean calligraphy and as a permanent exhibition space for the World Calligraphy Biennale.

It is especially anticipated to become a venue for promoting the popularization, industrialization, and globalization of Korean calligraphy.

Governor Song Ha-jin said, "With the promotion of the Biennale Hall construction, Jeollabuk-do, which has preserved the legacy of Korean calligraphy, will be able to create the future of Korean calligraphy," adding, "We will do our best to ensure smooth construction so that the beauty and excellence of Korean calligraphy are known worldwide and that it serves as an open artistic space for calligraphers and residents."

Meanwhile, the "2021 World Calligraphy Jeonbuk Biennale," representing Korean calligraphy and a festival for calligraphers worldwide, opened on the 5th of this month at the International Conference Hall of the Korean Sori Culture Center and will run until the 5th of next month.

This year's event will feature over 3,000 artists from 20 countries worldwide, with expansions in calligraphy genres and digital exhibitions held over 31 days at the Korean Sori Culture Center, Jeonbuk Arts Center, and 14 cities and counties.

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr