"Shared by Students and Residents"... 'Cultural Complex Facility' to Be Built in Haenam

Final Selection in Ministry of Education Contest
Total Project Cost of 14.5 Billion Won to Be Invested

An integrated space for education, culture, sports, and welfare that can be used by both students and local residents will be established in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do.

According to the Haenam Office of Education on August 9, the (tentatively named) Haenam Education and Culture Community Center project was finally selected in the Ministry of Education's '2025 School Complex Facility Contest Project'.

The center will be built on the site of Haenamdong Elementary School, with a total floor area of 3,360 square meters and three floors above ground. The total project cost is 14.5 billion won. Of this, the Ministry of Education will provide 7.25 billion won (50%), the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education will contribute 5.075 billion won (30%), and Haenam-gun will cover 2.175 billion won (20%). Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the opening planned for December 2028.

An education and cultural community center selected through the Ministry of Education's "School Complex Facility Contest Project" will be established at Haenamdong Elementary School. Provided by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

The center will be equipped with a variety of facilities that both students and residents can use. Spaces for after-school activities and creativity enhancement, such as the Neulbom Classroom, Creative Classroom, and Digital Classroom, will be established. In addition, there will be spaces for cultural and arts education, including a cooking practice room, instrument practice room, and theater and dance classrooms. Sports facilities such as an indoor futsal court, table tennis room, and VR sports room, which can be enjoyed by both residents and youth, will also be created.

The location was decided to be the site of Haenamdong Elementary School. This school is situated in the center of the most densely populated area in Haenam, with 10 apartment complexes clustered within a 500-meter radius. The nearby Haenam Terminal provides excellent access to public transportation, which was also an important factor in the project's selection.

Representative Park Jiwon held a briefing session on the Haenam Education and Culture Community Center project with parents from the Haenam area. Photo by Lee Jungyeong

The process of being selected was not smooth. After failing in the same contest last year, the Haenam Office of Education hesitated to reapply due to the heavy financial burden. However, after the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education and Haenam-gun agreed to share the financial responsibility, a resubmission became possible.

Support from the political sector also played a role. Park Jiwon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Haenam, Wando, and Jindo in Jeollanam-do), coordinated cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Haenam-gun through multiple discussions, consistently advocating for the necessity of the project and its regional impact, thereby serving as an invisible bridge.

Park emphasized, "The selection of Haenamdong Elementary School for this complex facility project will be a turning point for the development of education, culture, and the arts in the region," adding, "This project will also make a significant contribution to improving the residential environment in Haenam."

The Haenam Office of Education expects that by providing a community-centered space shared by students and local residents, it will create an environment that allows people to stay and settle in Haenam without leaving the area.