Gwangju Nam-gu Leads 'Baegun Plaza Transformation' Through Urban Regeneration

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] In the Baegun Square area of Nam-gu, Gwangju (District Mayor Kim Byung-nae), a community-led urban regeneration project is actively underway.

In particular, the results of the ‘Knit Working Project,’ led by local workers and craft artists to transform Baegun Square into a space connecting culture and people, are expected to be unveiled soon, drawing much attention.

According to Nam-gu and the Baegun Square Urban Regeneration Field Support Center on the 1st, the ‘Hand-Knitted Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony,’ the fruit of the Knit Working Project, will be held at the cultural yard in front of Yangwoo Naeanae at Baegun Square from 5 p.m. on the 3rd.

Local workers and craft artists have created a cultural space in Baegun Square and prepared a large Christmas tree, 5 meters tall and 3 meters in diameter, hand-knitted to offer warm comfort to residents weary from COVID-19 at the end of the year. The tree’s exterior is covered with 486 hand-knitted pieces, each made with meticulous care stitch by stitch.

Participants of the Knit Working Project explained, “Through hand knitting, people meet, and to add warm cheer at the end of the year, we used warm knit yarn.”

The reason why community-led urban regeneration projects are active in the Baegun Square area is that local workers and young people in the region have united to encourage residents’ participation and interest in urban regeneration projects.

Since August last year, through the ‘Resident Proposal Contest’ held twice by the district office, they have promoted unique projects such as a neighborhood-wide home repair school for the underprivileged, a self-interior school for youth entrepreneurship, and the operation of cultural & food trucks linking Baegun Square and Pureungil, revitalizing the community.

They have also created a booklet compiling the results of a neighborhood record project that collected videos, photos, and stories about the villages around Baegun Square, and held exhibitions based on the collected materials, fostering a community of coexistence with residents.

No Han-jong, head of the Baegun Square Field Support Center, said, “The main agents of urban regeneration projects are the village residents, and they are the owners of the village.” He added, “Through urban regeneration projects, we will make the neighborhood, which has seen fewer visitors, a place where people come and where anyone wants to live.”