Sangmyung University and Yeongdeok County Sign Agreement to Build Animation Theme Park, Ushering in New Era for Local Culture and Tourism

Sangmyung University and Yeongdeok County Join Forces
to Foster Animation and Webtoon Industries
and Boost Local Culture and Tourism

From the left in the photo, Gwangyeol Kim, Governor of Yeongdeok County, and Sungtae Hong, President of Sangmyung University / Sangmyung University

Sangmyung University and Yeongdeok County in North Gyeongsang Province have joined forces to foster the animation, comics, and webtoon industries and to revitalize local culture and tourism.

The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on August 28, agreeing to strengthen industry-academia cooperation and connect content industries with a focus on the animation theme park currently under development in Yeongdeok County.

Sangmyung University announced on the 29th that it had entered into a business agreement in the conference room of Yeongdeok County Office in North Gyeongsang Province to promote the creation of the animation theme park and foster the content industry.

Through this agreement, the two parties will pursue multifaceted cooperation, including: revitalizing the operation of the animation theme park; collaborating on education and research using animation equipment; jointly operating experiential and educational programs and producing content; and developing joint projects to boost local culture and tourism.

The animation theme park being built in Byeonggok-myeon, Yeongdeok County, is being developed as a multi-content park that integrates culture, education, experience, tourism, and industry, in collaboration with the Korea Animation Producers Association, Gyeongbuk Content Agency, and Sangmyung University.

The theme park will feature family-friendly spaces such as a character hand-printing sculpture park, a kids' comic cafe, an exhibition hall on the history of Korean animation, and an immersive content experience zone. In addition, the nearby area will include the "Sea Literature Museum."

The Digital Comics and Animation major at Sangmyung University has extensive experience in content-related projects, such as operating webtoon contests and carrying out projects for the Korea Creative Content Agency. Alumni, including Choi Gyu-seok of "Hellbound" and Park Tae-jun of "Lookism," are actively working in the field.

Kim Kwangyeol, Governor of Yeongdeok County, said, "This agreement is an important opportunity to realize Yeongdeok County's potential," and added, "Together with Sangmyung University, we will drive the revitalization of tourism."

Hong Sungtae, President of Sangmyung University, emphasized, "We will contribute to the development of the local community based on our expertise in content."