22 Million Won Invested from Hometown Love Donation Fund
Showcasing Classic Films and Sci-Fi Animation from Korea and Abroad
On June 18, Gwangju Donggu District announced that the Gwangju Theater, the only remaining single-screen theater in Korea, has completed a renovation by replacing its old projector with a state-of-the-art digital projector funded by the Hometown Love Donation Program. To mark this occasion, the theater will host a special screening event titled '4K Cinema Gwangju'.
Since its opening in 1935, Gwangju Theater has been a historic venue that has accompanied the history of Korean cinema for nearly 90 years. In recent years, as digital screening environments have evolved, there has been a growing need to replace the aging projector at Gwangju Theater.
In response, Donggu invested 220 million won raised through the 'Gwangju Theater 100-Year Project', a Hometown Love Donation Program initiative, to replace the existing 2K (2,000-pixel) projector and screen with the latest 4K (4,000-pixel) equipment. This upgrade now enables the theater to provide a significantly improved viewing environment for its audiences.
To commemorate this, a special screening event, '4K Cinema Gwangju', will be held from June 27 to July 6. During this period, a variety of films?including domestic and international classics, as well as science fiction animation?will be screened under the enhanced viewing conditions made possible by the new projector. Designated donors to Gwangju Theater will also be offered the benefit of free admission during the special screening period.
On June 28, designated donors will be invited to a screening of director Lee Myung-se's 'Nowhere to Hide' (1999), followed by a guest visit (GV) session with director Lee Myung-se himself.
Lim Taek, head of Donggu District, stated, "Gwangju Theater is a valuable asset that embodies the region's history and cultural value. By replacing the projector, we have improved the viewing environment, and we expect Gwangju Theater to regain its vitality as a hub for culture and the arts. I ask for the continued interest and participation of people nationwide so that Hometown Love Donations can serve as an important resource for preserving local cultural assets."
Meanwhile, Donggu is currently pursuing the registration of Gwangju Theater as a nationally registered cultural heritage site in order to preserve its historical and symbolic value. The district is also actively working to raise Hometown Love Donations to prepare for the next 100 years of Gwangju Theater and to further establish it as a leading cultural and artistic hub in the region.
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