[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, has begun full-scale efforts to transform the (former) Jangheung Prison, which had long remained an idle space in the region, into a cultural and artistic complex space for local residents.
According to the county on the 30th, the (former) Jangheung Prison opened in 1975 and served as a correctional and rehabilitation facility for over 40 years until it was newly relocated to Yongsan-myeon in 2014. However, it was considered a nuisance facility by local residents and remained an eyesore even after its closure, leading to ongoing calls for improvement.
Accordingly, in 2017, the first plan to create a cultural and artistic complex space at the (former) Jangheung Prison was established, and in 2019, the site of the (former) Jangheung Prison was purchased for 3.2 billion KRW, laying the groundwork to develop it as a space for the people of Jangheung.
Also in 2019, through an application to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s ‘Industrial Complex and Abandoned Industrial Facilities Cultural Regeneration Project,’ a total project budget of 10.3 billion KRW was secured. Since last year, the project has been promoted as a five-year plan running through 2024, aiming to create a creative and citizen-friendly cultural and artistic space.
In the first year of the project last year, preliminary administrative procedures such as ‘detailed safety inspection services for remodeling target buildings’ and ‘public architecture project plan review’ were conducted. An ‘archive service’ was also carried out to document the current state of the (former) Jangheung Prison. In March of this year, basic and detailed design services were commissioned, and from December, exhibition design and production services are planned to be implemented.
In the first half of next year, the exhibition proposals will be further developed through feedback from local residents and experts, and the design will be finalized. From the second half, construction work and exhibition production and installation will proceed, with completion scheduled for May 2024.
The newly renovated (former) Jangheung Prison is planned to be developed into a ‘cultural and artistic space,’ a ‘prison experience space,’ and a ‘film shooting space.’ The ‘cultural and artistic space’ aims to resolve the long-standing shortage of exhibition spaces in Jangheung-gun, create a space for exchange among local artists and a permanent exhibition area, and ultimately establish a cultural and artistic complex that enhances the cultural life index of local residents.
Additionally, the ‘prison experience space’ will utilize the unique characteristics of the prison, the only one of its kind nationwide, to create an experiential area for visitors. Parts of the detention building, the playground, and the exterior of the auditorium, which have been frequently used for film and drama shoots, will be restored to their original form and used as a ‘film shooting space.’
County Governor Jeong Jong-sun stated, “The prison, which was once an uncomfortable place for some, will now return to the community as a bright and lively space,” expressing his determination to devote himself to creating a new landmark for Jangheung.
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