The groundbreaking ceremony for the ‘Complex Innovation Center,’ a key issue in expanding residential conditions in Bitgaram Innovation City, Naju, Jeollanam-do, and a long-cherished project by residents, has taken place.
Naju City, Jeollanam-do, announced on the 29th that it held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Innovation City Complex Innovation Center on the 29th.
The center will be built on a site near the Bitgaram-dong Administrative Welfare Center, covering 8,832㎡ (total floor area 20,191㎡), with one basement floor and five above-ground floors.
It will be developed as a convergence and complex facility including exhibition, recreational sports, cultural and leisure community, and youth startup support, serving as a cultural, communication, and exchange space for citizens of various demographics.
The construction of the center will involve a total project cost of 68 billion KRW (19 billion KRW from the national government, 5 billion KRW from Jeollanam-do, 5 billion KRW from Gwangju Metropolitan City, and 39 billion KRW from the city), aiming for completion in May 2025.
The facility will include a basement parking lot, exhibition and seminar rooms on the first floor, a cultural center and citizen community room on the second floor, a youth startup support center on the third floor, a youth cultural center and multipurpose gymnasium on the fourth floor, and a multipurpose sports room on the fifth floor.
The indoor swimming pool, a recreational sports facility most desired by citizens, will feature 8 lanes and a length of 25 meters.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju; Shin Jeong-hoon, Member of the National Assembly; Lee Sang-man, Chairperson of the City Council; Im Mi-ran, Chairperson of the Administrative and Autonomy Committee of the Gwangju City Council; Jang Heon-beom, Director of Planning and Coordination of Jeollanam-do; Bae Il-kwon, Director of Planning and Coordination of Gwangju Metropolitan City; local city and provincial council members; heads of institutions and social organizations; and about 300 residents.
Kim Chun-jin, President of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), Kim Hong-sang, President of the Korea Rural Economic Institute, as well as executives and employees of public institutions relocated to the innovation city such as Korea Electric Power Corporation, KEPCO KDN, and KEPCO KPS also celebrated the groundbreaking together.
The ceremony proceeded with a congratulatory performance by the municipal Gugak orchestra, opening remarks, project progress report, commemorative and congratulatory speeches, resident testimonials, and the groundbreaking performance.
Mayor Yoon Byung-tae expressed in his commemorative speech, “The Bitgaram Complex Innovation Center, equipped with functions such as culture and leisure, recreational sports, exhibitions, and resident community, will rise as a core facility of residential conditions in the Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Innovation City, meeting citizens’ expectations as a complex cultural space.”
He added, “Although the construction of the center is somewhat delayed compared to other innovation cities, we will meticulously do our best to create a substantial space that citizens can visit anytime and use more conveniently.”
Meanwhile, at the ceremony, in addition to commemorative and congratulatory speeches by guests, resident Lee Gye-won, who has lived in Bitgaram-dong for eight years, attracted attention by delivering a testimonial reflecting on the center’s groundbreaking and her expectations.
Jang Hyun-gyu, the first student council president of Korea Energy Engineering University located in Bitgaram-dong, and elementary student Kim Mu-jin participated in the groundbreaking performance on stage alongside Mayor Yoon Byung-tae and other key guests, adding significance to the event.
Kim Yuk-bong, Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, bless4ya@asiae.co.kr
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