Academic Seminar Held on Establishing Comprehensive Maintenance Plan
Discussion on Preservation and Utilization Measures
Plan to Develop the Site into a Complex Cultural Space
City Also to Promote Application for National Heritage Designation
Naju City in South Jeolla Province is launching the establishment of a comprehensive maintenance plan for the systematic restoration and tourism development of Nampyeong Brewery (Naju Local Cultural Heritage No. 27), which holds a 94-year history, thereby fully initiating the preservation and utilization of modern industrial heritage.
Naju City announced on the 26th that it held an "Academic Seminar for Establishing a Comprehensive Maintenance Plan for Nampyeong Brewery in Naju" at the Ihwa Room of City Hall on the 24th.
This seminar was organized as part of the "Nampyeong Brewery Comprehensive Maintenance Plan Service," which has been underway since September last year, to reassess its historical value by gathering opinions from experts and stakeholders, and to prepare practical measures for its preservation and utilization.
Nampyeong Brewery, established on May 15, 1932, is a symbolic space that has represented the liquor-brewing culture of the Naju region from the Japanese colonial period through to the present day.
According to a survey by the National Folk Museum of Korea, it retains the largest number of historical records among breweries nationwide and is regarded as a case in which the original form of the building has also been preserved in a relatively intact state.
Two thematic presentations were given at the seminar.
Professor Kim Jongheon of Paichai University, a member of the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Korea Heritage Service, gave a presentation titled "Nampyeong Brewery as a Modern Industrial Heritage Site Where the Local Community Is Alive," in which he explained its architectural value and significance in the history of modern industry. Professor Lee Heonjong of Mokpo National University, a member of the Jeollanam-do Cultural Heritage Committee, presented "Plans for the Preservation, Management, and Utilization of Nampyeong Brewery," proposing a sustainable operation model that combines preservation of the original structure with regional development.
Naju City plans to finalize the comprehensive maintenance plan in March, reflecting the expert opinions presented at the seminar, and then begin a phased restoration project.
The city intends to go beyond simple building restoration and develop the site into a "complex cultural space" linked to the local economy by exhibiting extensive historical records and introducing traditional liquor experience programs.
In addition, once the comprehensive maintenance plan is completed, the city plans to promote follow-up procedures to further enhance the value of Nampyeong Brewery, including applying for its designation as a national heritage site.
An official from Naju City stated, "Nampyeong Brewery is a precious cultural asset that embodies the modern and contemporary history of Naju," adding, "We will restore its original form through thorough historical verification and develop it into a leading local cultural hub that citizens and tourists alike will enjoy visiting, in connection with the history and natural resources of Nampyeong."
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