Designation of Cultural Cities Including Suwon, Gongju, Yeongdeungpo, and Iksan

Up to 10 Billion KRW National Funding Support Over 5 Years

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that six locations?Gongju in Chungnam, Mokpo in Jeonnam, Miryang in Gyeongnam, Suwon in Gyeonggi, Yeongdeungpo in Seoul, and Iksan in Jeonbuk?have been designated as cultural cities following deliberation by the Cultural City Deliberation Committee. Up to 10 billion KRW in national funding will be provided over five years to utilize unique cultural resources to promote regional development and improve the cultural quality of local residents. An official stated, "The evaluation was based on the results of the preliminary cultural city projects, securing the foundation for implementation, and the potential to drive balanced development," adding, "15 billion KRW will be allocated to each city next year."

Suwon and Yeongdeungpo received high marks for connecting cultural resources across various living areas with citizens' cultural movements. Suwon set goals including a 10,000-member humanities club led by citizens, a 50,000-member citizen council, and 300 companion spaces. Yeongdeungpo plans to promote intercultural projects based on its cultural capabilities through the Mullae Creative Space. Iksan and Mokpo each proposed new city values centered on citizens. Iksan aims to foster the jewelry industry as a future urban industry based on the value of inclusion. Mokpo leads with cultural fishermen (human resources), fish (content), and market (local economy) to create the value of cultural opening ports. Gongju and Miryang focused on cultural restoration by citizens using historical heritage. Gongju responds to the threat of urban extinction by weaving citizens' stories based on the identity of Baekje history. Miryang carries out projects such as the Sunshine Culture Transformation Campus centered on spaces inherited by residents and local artists.

Meanwhile, from the 27th to the 29th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold a Cultural City Expo at Dongbu Warehouse in Cheongju under the theme "Every City is Special with Culture." The expo will share the achievements of previously designated cultural cities and provide expert consultations. Policy meetings, cultural city policy forums, and presentations and consultations on the projects of cultural city centers will also be held concurrently. Previously designated cultural cities include twelve locations: Bucheon in Gyeonggi, Seogwipo in Jeju, Yeongdo in Busan, Wonju, Gangneung, and Chuncheon in Gangwon, Cheonan in Chungnam, Cheongju in Chungbuk, Pohang in Gyeongbuk, Gimhae in Gyeongnam, Wanju in Jeonbuk, and Bupyeong in Incheon.