Gwangju City to Create Additional 330sqm Open Cultural Space on First Floor of City Hall

Spatial Reorganization... Expanded Openness for Up to 200 People
Events Possible: Art Exhibitions, Talk Concerts, Sports Cheering, and More
An "Open City Hall" for Citizen Communication, Cultural Exchange, and Public Services

Perspective view of the open multipurpose space on the first floor of Gwangju City Hall. Provided by Gwangju City.

The Gwangju City Hall is transforming from a citizen-friendly rest area into a complex cultural space.

On the 9th, the city of Gwangju announced that it will carry out the "Open City Hall Phase 1-2 Project" this month, which involves a complete remodeling of the eastern entrance on the first floor of the city hall to create an "open multipurpose space" where citizens can communicate and interact.

The "open multipurpose space" will be established on the eastern entrance of the city hall, covering an area of approximately 330 square meters. This area currently houses a local food direct sales store and the Hope Toy Library. With glass walls on the sides, it is expected to be reborn as a "citizen welcoming space" with a sense of openness and a pleasant atmosphere.

This space will be able to accommodate up to 200 people and will be used for various large-scale cultural events such as citizen-participation programs, exhibitions by local artists and citizens, talk and book concerts, busking, and sports cheering events.

The "open multipurpose space" is scheduled to begin construction this month and be completed by the end of March. The city is planning to hold a library cultural festival as the opening event in April, followed by the Citizens' Day event in May. Through collaboration with public institutions, cultural organizations, and civic groups, this space is expected to offer a wide range of events for citizens.

The existing local food direct sales store will be demolished following the closure decision by its operator, Seogwangju Nonghyup. The Hope Toy Library will be relocated to the duty office across the way, which has been vacant since the abolition of the "staff duty system," the first of its kind among metropolitan cities. The number of eastern city hall entrances will also be consolidated from two to one.

The city also plans to relocate the Hall of Honor and expand the security guard lounge. The Hall of Honor, which displays plaques for awardees and contributors to society, will be moved from its current location opposite the duty office to a dedicated space in front of the main conference room on the third floor. As the main conference room hosts various events, this move is expected to better promote social contribution activities to more citizens. The security guard lounge will be expanded from 43 square meters to 68 square meters, and the workspace will also be doubled from 11 square meters to 22 square meters, improving the working environment.

Previously, the city opened up rest areas for citizens by remodeling the interior and exterior of the city hall, creating a beehive-themed space, a central multipurpose area, and a stepped rest area, all of which received positive feedback. From the planning stage, the project has prioritized the reuse of recyclable materials such as HVAC systems, doors, and lighting fixtures, which has not only realized eco-friendly values but also reduced project costs.

Lee Subin, head of the Accounting Division, said, "This project is not just about rearranging spaces, but aims to strengthen communication with citizens and provide efficient public services," adding, "We expect the open multipurpose space to become a familiar and open administrative area for citizens by serving as a venue for diverse cultural, communication, and exchange activities."