"Gatbawi Culture Town Overlooked by Tourists"... Calls for Comprehensive Overhaul

Choi Seonguk of Jeonnam Provincial Council Raises Issue at Administrative Audit

Jeonnam Provincial Council member Choi Seonguk (Democratic Party of Korea, Mokpo 1) pointed out the lack of effectiveness of the Gatbawi Culture Town during the administrative audit of the Department of Cultural Prosperity held on November 5, emphasizing, "The construction of the International Sumuk Biennale Art Center should serve as an opportunity to restructure the entire Culture Town."

He criticized the current situation in which large-scale cultural spaces, into which hundreds of billions of won have been invested, are failing to fulfill their intended functions, and urged a transformation into a complex cultural space that combines both symbolism and practicality.

Seon-Guk Choi, Former Jeonnam Provincial Councilor

With the recent approval of the Jeonnam International Sumuk Biennale Art Center construction project by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's central fiscal investment review, a dedicated exhibition hall capable of permanent exhibitions is scheduled to be built in the Gatbawi Culture Town area of Mokpo by 2028.

Assemblyman Choi stated, "Mokpo still lacks a landmark cultural building that can represent the city," and proposed, "The Sumuk Biennale Art Center should not be just a simple exhibition space, but should be developed into a complex cultural space that blends commerce and culture, with cafes, souvenir shops, and experiential exhibition halls."

He further emphasized, "After the construction of the Art Center, it will be inevitable to restructure and redefine the roles of the entire Gatbawi Culture Town," adding, "The province should establish a comprehensive reorganization plan in connection with surrounding cultural facilities such as the Culture and Arts Center and the Namnong Art Museum."

Gatbawi Culture Town is a complex cultural space established in the area of the Gatbawi Natural Monument in Yonghae-dong, Mokpo, where various facilities such as the Culture and Arts Center, Natural History Museum, Living Ceramics Museum, Literature Museum, and Namnong Memorial Hall are clustered. However, the connections between facilities are insufficient, accessibility is poor, and there is a lack of experiential content and convenience facilities, resulting in low visitor inflow.

Assemblyman Choi remarked, "As the industrial landscape of the southwestern region is rapidly changing with the establishment of AI data centers, it would be a significant loss not to utilize cultural infrastructure," and urged, "Cultural and tourism infrastructure should be strategically linked so that new groups such as AI industry workers and foreigners can enjoy the local culture."

He added, "Jeonnam Province should work closely with Mokpo City to quickly specify the direction for restructuring the Culture Town, and present a more advanced plan at the work report early next year."