Gwangju City to Begin Construction of Energy Park at Sangmu Citizen Park on the 22nd

Mayor Lee Yong-seop "Expecting Synergy Between Gugak Regular Performances and Complex Cultural Facilities"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 15th that it will begin construction of the Energy Park, which is being promoted in cooperation with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), on the 22nd at Sangmu Citizens' Park (the former site of the Gwangju Expo Theme Pavilion).

However, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, construction will commence immediately without a separate groundbreaking ceremony.

The Energy Park development project will be established as an exhibition and experience facility for new energy technologies, as well as an educational space.

Previously, in May 2016, Gwangju City signed a cooperation agreement with KEPCO for the ‘Energy Valley Regional Win-Win Cooperation Project.’ Under the agreement, Gwangju City provides the site and maintenance, while KEPCO covers the entire project cost of 8 billion KRW and promotes the park development.

Subsequently, considering difficulties in maintenance and park utilization, some outdoor facilities were changed to an indoor exhibition hall project, leading to a design change decision to secure space (992㎡), resident briefings, KEPCO internal board approval, urban park review, and urban planning facility implementation approval notifications.

The outdoor facilities will begin construction on the 22nd and be completed in November, while the Energy Exhibition Hall will start construction in August and be completed by June 2021. After KEPCO transfers it to Gwangju City, it is scheduled to open in July next year, providing citizens with exhibition spaces for new energy technologies.

The detailed composition of the Energy Park’s spaces includes eight types of outdoor exhibits: ▲an energy fountain remodeling existing facilities ▲play equipment that visually recognizes energy production ▲Solar Tree, an image reflected on water storing solar energy ▲public sculptures symbolizing energy ▲Energy Park entrance signage ▲smart security lights and benches ▲and Lumi Road, which emits light at night.

The Energy Exhibition Hall is divided into four zones: ▲Energy Hall presenting the value of electricity and the energy industry ▲Green Planet introducing and providing experiences related to global climate change and renewable energy ▲Smart Energy depicting future lifestyles such as smart cities ▲and Epilogue, which includes a photo zone experience corner of a future energy utopia society.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, “Once this project is completed, it will create synergy with nearby facilities such as the Gwangju Gugak Regular Performance Hall and the complex cultural facility being developed at the former Sangmu Incineration Plant,” and added, “I hope the Energy Park becomes a representative local attraction that citizens can see and enjoy.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.