The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport jointly announced on the 25th that Gumi National Industrial Complex, Changwon National Industrial Complex, and Wanju General Industrial Complex have been selected as culture-leading industrial complexes for 2025.
The three ministries will build an integrated brand for the three culture-leading industrial complexes selected this year, reflecting their main industries and historical significance. Based on this, they plan to comprehensively support related ministries' projects such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's specialized cultural program support project for industrial complexes, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's structural advancement project, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's aging industrial complex regeneration project.
In Gumi National Industrial Complex, a plaza-type landmark preserving the historical value of existing buildings will be created on idle factory sites within the complex, and various cultural and artistic facilities will be established nearby. In Changwon National Industrial Complex, an industrial tourism course linked to defense industry infrastructure will be developed, establishing a brand befitting the country’s largest comprehensive machinery industrial complex. In Wanju General Industrial Complex, infrastructure expansion and maintenance will be carried out within the densely clustered industrial complex spaces including Jeonbuk Science Research Complex and Wanju 2nd General Industrial Complex, and cultural facilities and programs themed around the hydrogen industry will be prepared in connection with the hydrogen-specialized national industrial complex.
The three selected culture-leading industrial complexes will receive expert consulting through dedicated agencies for each project (such as the Regional Culture Promotion Institute, Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, and Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements), and after supplementing their project plans, agreements will be signed with the dedicated agencies by the end of April.
Lee Jeong-woo, Director of the Culture and Arts Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "We will focus on supporting cultural projects of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, including specialized cultural programs and the creation of artist creation spaces in the selected culture-leading industrial complexes, making them spaces preferred by young workers and local residents. We will closely collaborate with local sites and related ministries to promote the projects and strive to provide on-site support such as expert consulting and publicity to ensure that the culture-leading industrial complexes can produce sustainable outcomes."
Oh Seung-cheol, Director of the Industrial Infrastructure Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, emphasized, "The selection of culture-leading industrial complexes for 2025 is the first step toward transforming industrial complexes into spaces where industry, culture, and leisure harmonize. We will continue policy efforts so that industrial complexes can become local landmarks and growth hubs that attract youth and businesses."
Lee Sang-joo, Director of the Land and Urban Office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "For industrial complexes to continue playing a pivotal role as the driving force of Korea’s economic growth, it is necessary to expand infrastructure to attract businesses and people, along with integrating culture. Through the aging industrial complex regeneration project, we will actively work not only on new and expanded roads, parking lots, and parks but also on expanding cultural facilities."
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