[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The public and private sectors are joining forces to preserve the Incheon Aegwan Theater, known as Korea's first modern-style theater.
On the 18th, Incheon City signed a "Business Agreement for the Preservation and Utilization of Aegwan Theater" with the Incheon Film Commission, the Citizens' Group Loving Aegwan Theater (Aesamo), and Aegwan Theater officials in attendance.
According to the agreement, the city will review administrative and financial support necessary for the preservation and utilization of Aegwan Theater, while the Incheon Film Commission will promote various projects to transform Aegwan Theater into a new hub for film and video culture industries.
Additionally, the civic group will conduct a fundraising campaign to revitalize Aegwan Theater, and the theater management will cooperate with various public and private projects. This agreement has at least prevented the theater from being sold to private entities.
Located in Gyeongdong, Jung-gu, Incheon, Aegwan Theater is known to have continued its history for 127 years after changing its name to "Aegwan" in 1925, succeeding "Hyeomryulsa," Korea's first permanent motion picture theater established in 1895.
Aegwan Theater has been the cultural center for theater, performances, and films in Incheon since the opening of the port. However, with the emergence of multiplex cinemas, many theaters in Incheon have gradually disappeared, leaving only Aegwan Theater barely holding its ground.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the decline in audience numbers worsened the theater's financial difficulties, leading the management to consider private sale.
Local civic groups and artists formed Aesamo in April last year and urged Incheon City to publicly purchase Aegwan Theater. They stated, "Daegu Metropolitan City and Gangneung City regard private art theaters as public resources and have enacted ordinances to support operating costs, etc. We urge Incheon City to purchase Aegwan Theater based on its appraised value to protect this modern cultural heritage."
However, research results indicated that considering the continuous funding required, public acquisition led by the government is not suitable.
At the signing ceremony, Mayor Park Namchun said, "As single-screen theaters are gradually disappearing and Aegwan Theater is also facing operational difficulties, each stakeholder, including the administration and civil society, must fulfill their respective roles for the theater's new future." He added, "Let us all gather wisdom to preserve Aegwan Theater, which holds cultural pride and symbolism, and pass it on as a precious cultural heritage to future generations."
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