A Cultural Ecosystem Shaped by Tradition, Connection, and Staying
The Future of Andong on the World Stage
Andong is once again in the spotlight. Moving beyond its image as a "city of tradition," it is now emerging as a "city of cultural ecosystem" where visitors can stay and experience. At the heart of this transformation is the Dosan District.
This area, embracing the upper reaches of the Nakdong River and Andong Lake, is intricately woven with history, nature, and modern infrastructure. The Korean Culture Theme Park, Andong International Convention Center (ADCO), and Seonseonghyeon Cultural Complex form a triangular axis, creating a new rhythm of "learning-connection-staying."
◆ Transforming Tradition into Experience: Korean Culture Theme Park
The first axis is the Korean Culture Theme Park. Here, tradition is not simply displayed. In this complex cultural space where hanok and modern facilities coexist, visitors can directly experience activities such as wearing hanbok, archery, and traditional performances, turning tradition into everyday content.
Last summer, "Summer in Joseon: Cool Tradition" proved the potential of a stay-type cultural space by combining water activities, specialized nighttime experiences, and performances into a fusion program. This fall, major programs will follow, including the K-Pungnyu Festival (September 27-28), Autumn in Joseon (October 3-7), and the Sanseong Village Humanities Festival (November 3-9).
Additionally, "Joseon's Winter: Land of Light and Ice," held from December through January next year, will combine nighttime lighting and an ice rink to present a model for year-round stay-type tourism. Permanent performances such as "The Recipe (Nanta)" and "Hwairakrak" are also held throughout the year, providing reasons for visitors to stay at any time.
◆ Rising as a MICE Hub: Andong International Convention Center (ADCO)
The second axis is the Andong International Convention Center (ADCO). As the only international conference facility in the northern region, it features a main conference hall with up to 2,000 seats, as well as medium and small meeting rooms and multipurpose performance and exhibition spaces. Its advanced audio-visual systems and flexible structures accommodate everything from international conferences and corporate events to civic cultural activities.
The operation method is especially noteworthy. Dedicated teams provide one-stop support for planning, promotion, technical assistance, and on-site management, ensuring a seamless process from event preparation to post-event evaluation. Active collaboration with local institutions and businesses is building the "Andong-style MICE model," which holds significant meaning in terms of local economic impact and global scalability.
◆ Adding the Elegance of Time: Seonseonghyeon Cultural Complex
The final axis is the Seonseonghyeon Cultural Complex. Centered around restored government offices and guesthouses, the hanok experience area can accommodate up to 80 guests at once. These hanok facilities, which blend traditional beauty with modern convenience, elevate the quality of the stay experience.
Above all, its proximity to the Sanseong Waterside Trail and Yekki Village ensures excellent connectivity within the tourist circuit. At sunset, a walk from the hanok to the waterside trail offers a sense of tranquility rarely found in the city. This is not just accommodation, but an experience that enriches the density of life itself.
◆ Andong's Strategy Forged by Tradition, Modernity, and Time
These three spaces speak of the same city in different languages. The Korean Culture Theme Park transforms tradition into contemporary content, ADCO connects those experiences with the world, and the Seonseonghyeon Cultural Complex embraces this flow in the arms of time, completing the value of staying.
In this way, the Dosan District of Andong is building a robust local cultural ecosystem by layering these three forces. The city is transforming from a place merely for viewing events into a "city of staying," where connection and participation are alive.
◆ Andong Soaring into the Future
Andong is already widely known both domestically and internationally for its historical assets. Now, however, it is translating these assets into contemporary content, expanding them into global networks, and enhancing its reputation through the experience of staying. The Dosan District, where tradition, modernity, and time harmonize, is becoming a new engine that elevates Andong to a cultural city on the world stage.
"The three axes of the Dosan District are not simply spaces, but strategic bases for Andong's transformation into a 'city of staying.' The cultural ecosystem, where tradition and modernity are combined, will make Andong's future broader and deeper."
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