[Seoul Autonomous District News] Urban-style Sinhanok Cafe Planned as a New Cultural Facility Coexisting Tradition and Modernity, Scheduled for Completion in May 2023 · Opening of Sadang 4-dong Historical and Cultural Trail Connecting Kkachisan Park → Lee Jeong-yeong Burial Site → Sinhanok Cafe Targeted for Next Year... Jungnang-gu Selects Winning Design for Junghwa 2-dong Complex Office Building... Gangnam-gu Starts 2022 Media Art Exhibition from March Including Sinsa Dynamic Grid, Accepting Citizen Submissions Until the 22nd... Yangcheon-gu Hosts ‘Uridul Small Theater’ at Lifelong Learning Center · Ballet 'The Nutcracker' on April 15, Non...
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] In front of the Lee Jeong-yeong Burial Site in Sadang 4-dong, Dongjak-gu, an old ginkgo tree symbolizing the neighborhood casts its shade. Estimated to be about 390 years old and standing 29 meters tall, it is a protected tree designated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) has embarked on creating an urban-style new Hanok cafe and a historical cultural trail to fully immerse visitors in the historical atmosphere embodied by the Lee Jeong-yeong Burial Site, a Seoul City Tangible Cultural Property, and the protected tree.
This project is part of the Sadang 4-dong urban regeneration pilot project. First, the ‘urban-style new Hanok cafe’ near the protected tree will be newly constructed on a site purchased from an existing restaurant, with two floors above ground and a total floor area of 130㎡. It is designed to harmonize traditional and modern elements, aiming to establish itself as a communication space and cultural facility for local residents.
The cafe will operate various resident participation programs including ▲sales of various beverages ▲outdoor yard busking performances ▲flea markets, and more.
To build a sustainable urban regeneration ecosystem, the cafe operator will be selected through a public contest targeting resident organizations such as village enterprises and cooperatives.
Additionally, the historical cultural trail will connect the existing ‘Kkachisan Park’ hiking trail to the outer area of the Lee Jeong-yeong Burial Site, with an extension of approximately 360 meters. Although the Lee Jeong-yeong Burial Site is private property and has not been open to the general public, cultural heritage access was achieved after multiple consultations with the clan (宗中) owning the site.
The district plans to finalize a free-use and management plan for the private property and sign an agreement with the clan in June. Considering that the area is a cultural heritage protection zone, the design will minimize changes to the current state while maximizing the natural ambiance and traditional characteristics. In particular, a connecting passageway to the trail will be created behind the new Hanok cafe so that cafe visitors can naturally enjoy the surrounding scenery.
The new Hanok cafe and historical cultural trail will complete detailed design by July and begin construction. The trail is scheduled to open to the public in January next year, and the cafe in June.
For more details about the project, inquiries can be made to the Strategic Projects Division.
Kim Jong-woo, head of the Strategic Projects Division, said, “We will do our best to make this a landmark symbolizing Sadang-dong and a cultural enjoyment space for local residents.”
Sadang 4-dong was selected as a New Deal project site by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2019. The district is investing a total of 26 billion KRW by 2023 under the vision of ‘3rd Generation 100 Years! A Smart Village with Stories of People Living’ to promote various detailed projects.
The blueprint for the newly established Junghwa 2-dong Community Center, designed to provide integrated administrative services, has been completed.
Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) selected and announced the winning design for the ‘Junghwa 2-dong Complex Building’ on the 13th, following a design competition held in January. The winning entry was submitted by Danah Architects (CEO Min-seok Jo) and was chosen by the ‘Design Competition Jury Committee’ held on the 8th, which included experts in architecture.
The district explained that the selection was based on the excellent vertical spatial distribution and harmony with the park, as well as the friendly spatial structure that meets public interests, making it a community hub for the local society.
The Junghwa 2-dong Complex Building is planned to have one basement floor and five floors above ground, with a total floor area of 3,197.66㎡. It will include expanded resident convenience facilities such as the community center, autonomous hall, and library, creating a space for residents.
The district aims to complete detailed design by December and finish construction by August 2024.
Jungnang-gu Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi said, “It is meaningful to be able to newly build the Junghwa 2-dong Community Center as a complex building combining the autonomous center and library,” adding, “I hope the complex building will become a space where local residents can enjoy cultural life and contribute to improving quality of life.”
Meanwhile, the Junghwa 2-dong Community Center moved to a temporary building (Dongil-ro 129-gil 1) in June 2020.
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jung Soon-kyun) has been showcasing new artworks under the slogan ‘Gangnam-gu Art Road (Gangnam-gu Yesullo)’ at the Gangnam Media Art Galleries installed throughout Gangnam Street since the 15th of last month.
Starting with the ‘Sinsa Dynamic Grid’ located at the entrance of Garosu-gil in 2020, Gangnam-gu operates four media galleries: ‘Cheongdam Media Street’ at Apgujeong Rodeo Station connecting to Cheongdam Hallyu Star Street, ‘Cheongdam Intersection Urban Frame’ where pure art works can be appreciated, and ‘Segok Intersection Urban Cloud’ designed to resemble clouds.
The galleries are divided into halls 1, 2, 3, and 4, allowing visitors to enjoy various artworks by region.
This year, citizen artworks selected through two contests will be exhibited at the Sinsa Dynamic Grid, with the current contest open until the 22nd. Detailed information is available on the Gangnam-gu Office website. Additionally, plans include an overseas artist invitational exhibition in July, a collaboration exhibition with the Gallery Association from September to November, and invitational exhibitions featuring K-POP artists and K-fashion designers.
Gangnam-gu Mayor Jung Soon-kyun said, “The media galleries broadcasting only artworks without advertisements on the busy streets of Gangnam will provide new opportunities for artists who lost exhibition spaces due to COVID-19 and offer citizens a time to recharge,” adding, “We will continue to create dignified spaces throughout the streets that make people say ‘Gangnam is truly different’ and complete the image of a ‘future-oriented attractive city that the world is watching.’”
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that starting from the 15th, ‘Our Theater’ will be held at the Lifelong Learning Center and Smart Creative Talent Center (hereafter ‘Yangcheon-gu Lifelong Learning Center’) to provide residents with opportunities to enjoy high-quality culture in daily life.
‘Our Theater’ is a video performance project supported and selected through the ‘Seoul Arts Center SAC On Screen’ contest. It operates by filming various cultural contents such as plays, operas, and musicals performed on the Seoul Arts Center stage and screening them on a large screen.
Opened in November last year, the Yangcheon-gu Lifelong Learning Center actively utilizes the Smart Media Lounge on the first floor to present high-quality artistic performances to local residents.
The April screenings include the ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ on the 15th and the nonverbal performance ‘Snap’ on the 30th. These free performances will be provided in high-definition video on the large media wall installed on the first floor of the Lifelong Learning Center.
The first screening, the ballet ‘The Nutcracker,’ is a filmed version of the National Ballet’s performance presented at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater in 2013, featuring grand and spectacular compositions and high-level choreography.
The second screening, ‘Snap,’ is a mysterious video work combining ▲mime ▲shadowgraphy ▲media art ▲magic show, which was officially invited to the New Victory Theater on Broadway 42nd Street in 2019. The screening lasts 50 minutes and is rated for all ages, promising an enjoyable performance for everyone.
Applications for the April 30th ‘Snap’ performance can be made online on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9 a.m. on the 25th via the Yangcheon-gu Lifelong Learning Center website. The audience capacity is 20 people.
Yangcheon-gu Lifelong Learning Center will continue to designate the second Friday at 7 p.m. and the fourth Saturday at 4 p.m. of each month as ‘Culture Days,’ bringing selected excellent performances from the Seoul Arts Center to residents monthly until December.
For more information about ‘Our Theater,’ inquiries can be made to the Education Support Division.
An official from the Education Support Division said, “We are holding ‘Our Theater’ so that residents can feel the emotional impact of Seoul Arts Center’s premium performances close to home,” adding, “We plan to provide a vivid sense of being at the actual performance venue through the large screen, so we encourage many interested residents to apply.”
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