Goyang City Hosts 'Goyang Cultural Arts Policy Forum'... Proposes Leap to Global Performance Hub City

Discussion on Development Plans under the Theme of 'A New Challenge Toward Becoming a Global Performance Hub City'
Over 100 Participants Including Performance Industry Workers, Related Organization Officials, and Citizens
Mayor Lee Dong-hwan: "Goyang City Has an Opportunity to Become a Mecca of Global Performances"

Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) announced on the 10th that it held the ‘2024 Goyang Culture and Arts Policy Forum’ on the 5th at the press room of Goyang Sports Complex, with about 100 attendees including performing arts industry workers, related organization officials, and citizens.

‘2024 Goyang Culture and Arts Policy Forum’ Special Talk (left: Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, right: Lim Hee-yoon, Music Critic). Provided by Goyang Special City

This forum was held to discuss the future vision for Goyang City to leap forward as a global performing arts hub city.

At the forum, various stakeholders including experts, citizens, and industry representatives reviewed the achievements of the 'Performing Arts Infrastructure Revitalization Project' promoted by Goyang City and presented diverse opinions on advancing as a global performing arts hub city.

In a special dialogue with music critic Lim Hee-yoon, Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, said, “Starting with Kanye West this year, we hosted performances by Seventeen and ENHYPEN, and attracted world-class concerts such as Coldplay and Oasis to Goyang, rediscovering Goyang Sports Complex as a sacred place for performances. We take pride in having a large-scale venue that can accommodate over 40,000 people and the performing arts infrastructure.”

He added, “Moreover, Goyang City has sufficient conditions to become a global performing arts hub city, including accessibility by public transportation and proximity to the airport, more so than any other region. Along with facility improvements, we will do our best to create a sustainable structure.”

Professor Lee Kyu-tak of George Mason University Korea analyzed successful cases such as Saitama Arena and Pia Arena MM in Japan through his presentation, emphasizing, “We found that it is not necessary for a concert hall to be located in Tokyo,” and “Goyang City can fully utilize the advantages of venues located in suburban areas near the city.” He especially pointed out the potential for Goyang City’s development by stating, “By combining performances and tourism, it is possible to reach not only domestic but also overseas fans, and regional commercial revitalization can also be expected.”

‘2024 Goyang Culture and Arts Policy Forum’ panelists (from left: Seon-Young Kwon, Associate Research Fellow at Goyang City Research Institute; Kyu-Tak Lee, Professor at George Mason University Korea; Eun-Won Seo, Director of Culture and Arts Division, Goyang City). Provided by Goyang Special City

As a panelist, Kwon Sun-young, Associate Research Fellow at the Goyang City Policy Research Institute, suggested, “For the sustainability of a performing arts hub city, participation and governance of local residents, fostering of professionals, and linkage with existing resources are important.” She emphasized, “It is essential to pursue policies from a long-term perspective rather than one-off events.”

Seo Eun-won, Head of the Culture and Arts Division of Goyang City, also stated during the discussion session, “Although the foundation for becoming a performing arts hub city has been established through achievements in attracting world-class performances, supplementation of personnel and organization is necessary for sustainability,” and added, “We will listen to and cooperate with experts and citizens from all walks of life to move forward as a culture and arts city together with the citizens.”

Kwon Min-joo, Senior Specialist of the Culture and Arts Division of Goyang City, introduced the purpose and achievements of the 2024 pilot project in the presentation on the ‘2025 Large-scale Performance Attraction Project Promotion Direction’ and collected participants’ opinions through a Q&A session.

A Goyang Special City official stated, “The discussions at this forum are expected to serve as an important foundation for designing the future of Goyang City’s culture and arts policies. Goyang City plans to continue strengthening its identity as a culture and arts city and create policies that grow together with its citizens.”