Ansan Wolpidong 'Smart Munhwa Yesul Street' to be Completed in September

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

The 'Smart Culture and Arts Street' in Wolpi-dong, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, will be completed in September.

Wolpi-dong in Ansan is a geographically isolated area surrounded by Gwangdeoksan Mountain and Ansancheon Stream. Its geographic isolation was further intensified by the development of the Ansan New Town in the 1990s. As a result, the area has rapidly declined due to weakened competitiveness as a residential area, making it necessary to restore local vitality through the expansion of living infrastructure and linkage with the nearby Seoul Institute of the Arts.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi-do is creating a smart culture and arts specialized street where citizens and students can enjoy together on Art University Road in front of the Seoul Institute of the Arts, by linking the Wolpi area of Ansan, selected in 2021 by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for the ‘Living-Close Urban Regeneration Smart Technology Support Project,’ with the ‘Street Environment Improvement Project.’

First, Gyeonggi-do established a cooperative system with the Seoul Institute of the Arts to broadcast differentiated cultural and artistic digital content produced by the university on a ‘media wall.’ Additionally, using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, a ‘smart busking’ space is being created where, with just a smartphone, video recording, sound support, and YouTube streaming are possible during busking performances.

Furthermore, to ensure a safe and pleasant street environment, the project to create a ‘smart safe street’ with smart streetlights and smart CCTVs is being promoted simultaneously.

Seo Sang-gyu, head of the Gyeonggi-do Regeneration Management Team, stated, "We plan to build a cultural and artistic platform on Art University Road connecting the Seoul Institute of the Arts and Wolpi-dong to promote free cultural and artistic activities such as busking performances, and to further enhance the regeneration and vitality of the old downtown area through linkage with urban regeneration projects."

To revitalize declining old downtown areas in the province, Gyeonggi-do has cooperated with cities, counties, and urban regeneration support centers to have the highest number nationwide with 67 sites selected in government urban regeneration public contests by this year. Currently, including 20 Gyeonggi-do type urban regeneration projects, urban regeneration projects are underway at 87 sites.