The Steel City Gwangyang, 'Park1538 Gwangyang' Completed

Birth of a Complex Cultural Space Featuring PR Center, Art Museum, and Education Center

Gwangyang, known as the city of steel and light, is transforming into a high-class cultural city.

On the 3rd, POSCO opened 'Park1538 Gwangyang', embarking on a journey of light where culture and industry coexist, together with the citizens of Gwangyang.

(From left) Heemin Jung, President of POSCO E&C; Kyunggeun Lee, Director of Yeosu Employment and Labor Office; Daewon Choi, Chairman of Gwangyang City Council; Seongho Kim, Chairman of POSCO Labor Union; Inhwa Jung, Mayor of Gwangyang; Inhwa Jang, Chairman of POSCO Group; Hyangyeop Kwon, Member of the National Assembly; Changhwan Park, Vice Governor of Jeonnam Province for Economic Affairs; Heegeun Lee, President of POSCO; Taekyun Kim, Chairman of Jeonnam Provincial Council; Jinman Park, Head of Industrial Complex Corporation; Cheolgeun Kim, Representative of POSCO Labor-Management Council. Provided by Gwangyang Steelworks

'Park1538' first debuted in Pohang four years ago. 'Park', a space embracing people, and '1538', the melting point of steel in Celsius, come together to form 'Park1538', symbolizing the beautiful moment just before steel is transformed into something new, as well as the passion of POSCO employees.

The blazing flame that was ignited in Pohang has now continued in Gwangyang as a 'wave of light'. 'Park1538 Gwangyang' consists of a PR center and an education center, and also features the 'POSCO Art Museum Gwangyang' within the PR center, offering high-quality cultural and artistic experiences.

Before the official opening, the exhibition 'Journey of the LIGHT' is being held, showcasing 33 carefully selected artworks from the POSCO Group's collection to commemorate the 33 years since the comprehensive completion of POSCO's fourth quarter-century.

At the opening ceremony, key POSCO executives including Chairman Chang Inhwa, President Lee Heekeun, POSCO E&C President Jung Heemin, POSCO Labor Union Chairman Kim Seongho, and POSCO Labor-Management Council Representative Kim Cheolgeun attended, as well as major regional figures such as National Assembly member Kwon Hyangyeop, Jeollanam-do Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Park Changhwan, and Gwangyang Mayor Jung Inhwa.

In his commemorative speech, Chairman Chang Inhwa stated, "To realize the future we dream of, it is most important to gain support from stakeholders, including the local community," and added, "I hope this will become an open, high-class cultural space that envisions the past, present, and future created together by the local community and POSCO."

POSCO plans to establish 'Park1538 Gwangyang' as a landmark of the region by linking it with the experiential sculpture 'Eternal Beacon (tentative name)' currently under construction on Gubongsan. Furthermore, POSCO will continue to cooperate with Gwangyang City to attract more visitors by connecting with Gwangyang's representative tourist attractions such as Maehwa Village and the Camellia Forest at Okgyeongsa Temple Site.

Previously, in 2021, POSCO built 'Park1538' and the experiential sculpture 'Space Walk' in Pohang, elevating the city's status as a tourist destination. Based on this experience, POSCO plans to collaborate with local governments and residents to transform Gwangyang, a city of steel and logistics, into a refined city where culture and industry coexist.

'Park1538 Gwangyang', operated by reservation, will be open for free to everyone through the official website starting from the 14th, with a viewing time of about 60 minutes. The art museum also offers a docent program twice a day (11 a.m. and 3 p.m.), which can be reserved in advance, and general admission is available without reservation.