Passed Central Fiscal Investment Review by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety
Administrative Procedures Underway for 2028 Completion
Dedicated Exhibition Hall to Span 7,011 Square Meters
Features to Include Media Theater and Creative Spaces
Various Programs to Operate Year-Round
Jeonnam Province announced that the construction project for the Jeonnam International Sumukh Biennale Art Center, a dedicated exhibition hall for the biennale, has passed the central fiscal investment review by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. As a result, the province has secured a space capable of hosting permanent exhibitions, laying the foundation for its leap toward becoming a world-class biennale.
This project is a core initiative that Jeonnam Province has been pursuing since last year to expand the underdeveloped cultural and artistic infrastructure in the western region of Jeonnam and to keep pace with global art exhibition trends.
Jeonnam Province has thoroughly reviewed the feasibility and necessity of building the center from multiple perspectives and made full-scale preparations. In August, the province requested a local fiscal investment review from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and after actively explaining the necessity, demand, and feasibility of the project, it successfully passed the review in a single attempt without a resubmission. Jeonnam Province plans to proceed with administrative procedures such as detailed design without delay, aiming to begin construction in 2026 and complete it by 2028.
The art center will be built in Yonghae-dong, Mokpo, with a total project cost of 45 billion won. It will have a total floor area of approximately 7,011 square meters, spanning one basement level and three above-ground floors, and is scheduled for completion by 2028.
The interior will feature a permanent media theater, a digital art exhibition hall, an educational experience room, and creative spaces. The center will support the creative activities of local artists and young creators, while also serving as a central hub for the exchange of sumukh art both domestically and internationally.
In addition to the biennale, the center plans to operate a variety of programs year-round, including art fairs, the Sumukh Art Academy, media facade performances, and a sumukh studio, further enriching the region's cultural ecosystem.
Kim Yungrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, stated, "The construction of the Sumukh Biennale Art Center, a long-cherished wish of the western region of Jeonnam, is now moving forward in earnest following the central government's recognition of its feasibility. The art center will not only broaden cultural and artistic opportunities for local residents but also serve as a key infrastructure for balanced development across eastern and western regions."
Since its inaugural event in 2018, the Jeonnam International Sumukh Biennale has surpassed 350,000 cumulative visitors as of 2025, just before the end of the current edition, establishing itself as a leading biennale in Korea. This year's biennale, held under the theme "Neighbors of Civilization," features 83 artists from 20 countries, presenting a variety of works-including painting, installation, and media art that bridge the traditional and contemporary aspects of sumukh-across three venues in Haenam, Jindo, and Mokpo.
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