'Seokjaemyeongso' Hwangdeungseoksan, Cultural Arts Park Observatory Groundbreaking Ceremony

Groundbreaking for Cultural Arts Park Observatory
Phase 1 to Complete Observatories 1 and 2 by 2025
Jeong Heon-yul, Iksan Mayor: "Turning Mining Process into a Tourism Product"

Hwangdeungseok (granite), the highest quality domestic stone, quarried in Hwangdeung-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do, is being transformed into a cultural and arts park.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Hwangdeung Seoksan Cultural Arts Park Observatory was held on the 15th at Hwangdeung Seoksan in Iksan, Jeonbuk.
[Photo by Hwangdeung Art Culture]

On the 15th, Hwangdeung Industry held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a cultural and arts park observatory at the Hwangdeung quarry. About 300 guests, including Jeong Heon-yul, mayor of Iksan, Kim Gyeong-jin, chairman of the Iksan City Council, and Lee Chun-seok, member of the National Assembly, attended the ceremony.

Mayor Jeong Heon-yul of Iksan, who attended the ceremony, said in his commemorative speech, "I once visited the world's largest copper mine in Utah, USA. It is still an active mining site, and I was truly amazed to see many tourists flocking there worldwide. The mining equipment looked like matchboxes, and the workers appeared as small as ants, but just observing that process itself became a tourism product, which left a great impression on me."

Mayor Jeong added, "Hwangdeung quarry has an environment as good as the copper mine in the US. Instead of converting it into a tourism industry after mining is completely finished, I thought about commercializing the mining process itself. Fortunately, Hwangdeung Industry shares the same idea, which was very encouraging."

He continued, "We plan to build a National Stone Industry Support Center here soon. This shows Iksan's strong determination to revive the stone industry once again," and expressed his aspirations for designating Iksan as a special zone for the stone industry. He emphasized, "If the stone industry special zone is designated, a stone industry promotion center will be established, and a tourist site will be created here, leading the stone industry to experience a second heyday."

Iksan Mayor Jeong Heon-yul is expressing his ambition to designate Iksan as a special zone for the stone material industry.
[Photo by Hwang Deung Art & Culture]

Kim Gyeong-jin, chairman of the Iksan City Council, said in his congratulatory speech, "The Hwangdeung quarry cultural and arts park is being reborn as new content by utilizing the abandoned quarry to combine culture, art, and tourism, and citizens have high expectations. Like Pocheon's Art Valley, I hope Hwangdeung quarry will become a regional landmark where art, nature, and relaxation can be enjoyed simultaneously and contribute to the local economy."

Lee Chun-seok, member of the National Assembly (Iksan-si Gap), who introduced himself as a native of Hwangdeung, said in his congratulatory speech, "If the Hwangdeung quarry cultural and arts park is completed, I believe it will become not only a landmark of our Iksan but also a landmark of Jeollabuk-do and South Korea. I ask you to view this project with a long-term and broad perspective." He also stressed, "If the cultural and arts park generates profits, a certain portion must be shared with and returned to our local community, which should not be forgotten."

Kim Chan-hyeok, CEO of Hwangdeung Industry, who led this project, explained in the construction overview report, "In 2022, we held two residents' public hearings for the Hwangdeung Industry park project, and in August 2023, we established Hwangdeung Art & Culture Co., Ltd. to promote and operate the Hwangdeung Cultural and Arts Park project."

Kim Chan-hyeok, CEO of Hwangdeungseoksan, is explaining the status of the Hwangdeungseoksan Cultural and Arts Park development plan to Jeong Heon-yul, Mayor of Iksan.
[Photo by Hwangdeung Art & Culture]

Kim also stated, "Hwangdeung Art & Culture held an international media art fa?ade event in October 2023 to mark the start of the cultural and arts park project. Since July 2023, we have completed planning, permit applications, and administrative procedures for building the first and second observatories and walking trails at Hwangdeung quarry over about a year, leading to today's groundbreaking ceremony."

The Hwangdeung quarry cultural and arts park project is a long-term project in three phases, with a total investment of over 32 billion KRW by 2031, combining 17 billion KRW of equity capital and 15 billion KRW of private investment.

In the first phase, scheduled to be completed by December 2025, the first and second observatories and walking trails will be constructed. The first observatory will include a viewing platform to tour the Hwangdeung quarry mining site, a resting facility of about 100 pyeong, media art, and exhibition facilities.

The second observatory will feature a viewing platform and terrace overlooking the entire park from the south side, a sales center for agricultural and livestock products from Iksan, exhibition and small performance halls, various art exhibition spaces using Hwangdeung stone, and an outdoor garden.

The walking trail connecting the first and second observatories will not only serve as a promenade but also link with the nearby Hwangdeung Traditional Market, combining sightseeing and food, which is expected to revitalize the local economy and develop into a popular destination continuously visited by tourists.

A drone view of Hwangdeungseoksan. According to the research service results on the ripple effects of Hwangdeungseoksan Culture and Arts Park, upon project completion, the production inducement effect is estimated at 72.2 billion KRW, the value-added inducement effect at 23.4 billion KRW, and the employment inducement effect at 435 people.
[Photo by Hwangdeung Art & Culture]

The ripple effect of the Hwangdeung quarry cultural and arts park, according to research, is expected to generate 72.2 billion KRW in production inducement, 23.4 billion KRW in added value inducement, and create 435 jobs upon project completion.

Additionally, about 100,000 visitors are expected annually by 2031, with a target of 500,000 tourists by 2035.

Kim Dae-dong, general director of Hwangdeung Art & Culture, explained, "The Hwangdeung quarry cultural and arts park is divided into three phases, and today's observatory groundbreaking ceremony belongs to the first phase. In January, we completed a feasibility study with Sam An Engineering to promote the second phase."

Director Kim added, "Recently, we visited successful cases in Japan, China, France, and Austria that utilized abandoned quarries as cultural, artistic, tourism, and industrial resources, and met with local officials to exchange various opinions. We plan to develop the Hwangdeung quarry cultural and arts park into a successful and sustainable cultural and arts park by utilizing these successful cases and tailoring content suitable for Iksan."