[Interview] Lee Haeryeon, Changwon City Council Member: "Urgent Need to Discover Hidden Artists Among Youth Flocking to Jinhae"

Falling for Jinhae Yeoja-dong Urban Regeneration Project... Want to Create Opportunities for Artists

Councilor Lee Haeryeon of the Culture, Environment, and City Committee of Changwon City Council.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] "We have been steadily collecting successful cases of urban regeneration. Based on that, we are carrying out regeneration unique to Yeoja-dong, a city imbued with art and culture."

We met the man who fell in love with Jinhae, Gyeongnam. How beautiful must Jinhae be for him to have fiercely opposed the administrative merger that combined Masan and Changwon? While merging can create synergy, it often causes the loss of a city's 'character.' To preserve Jinhae's unique beauty and color, he took up the 'baton.'

He is leading urban regeneration with that stubborn will. The conductor is Lee Haeryeon, a member of the Culture, Environment, and City Committee of Changwon City Council.

Currently, there is a trend of young entrepreneurs from the metropolitan area moving down to Jinhae. Lee predicts that with the activation of green algae tourism unique to Jinhae and the opening of the second Anmin Tunnel, Jinhae will become a city with vision.

'Opposition to the Ma-Chang-Jin integration.' When Lee operated a coffee shop gallery in Jinhae, it was the first time she actively took a stand for her hometown Jinhae. That experience deepened her special affection for Jinhae and led her to the path of a member of the Culture, Environment, and City Committee.

Since then, she has contributed to the development of culture and arts in the region by continuing the three major integrated council positions such as a member of the Korean Tourism Association and a promotion committee member for the activation of Changwon's video industry. The following is a Q&A with Councilor Lee.

- You have been part of the Culture, Environment, and City Committee for nine years. What made you particularly enter the field of culture and arts?

"I realized the importance of discovering amateur artists in the region and providing a platform where their talents can be showcased. My role is to lay the groundwork for that background. Through urban regeneration projects, I have communicated with young amateur artists and once again felt that culture and arts have a great impact on community formation. Naturally, I settled into this field with the desire to provide opportunities for local artists to establish themselves."

- Do you think there will be changes in the cultural and artistic fields before and after COVID-19?

"I expect significant changes. The way people approach and engage with art will differ before and after COVID-19. The pandemic has already completely changed how people enjoy festivals and culture. Previously, people learned and enjoyed art by meeting in person, but now it has shifted to non-face-to-face interactions. The atmosphere changed from 'together' to 'alone.' Because of this, I expect the talents and skills of artists hidden everywhere to become deeper and more elevated. After COVID-19, more diverse and skilled artists will emerge."

Assemblywoman Lee Haeryun.

- What is your biggest concern currently as a member of the Culture, Environment, and City Committee?

"I feel there is a lack of places where amateur artists can stand. Rather than formal art that only invites already famous artists, it is important to discover artists hidden everywhere. To do that, Changwon City must first have a dedicated cultural content team including cultural and artistic experts. If there is a professional who knows the actual cultural and artistic scene well and can vividly convey the voices of artists, I believe opportunities for artists will increase."

- I understand you are also working hard to integrate culture and arts into urban regeneration projects.

"I am currently in charge of the urban regeneration project in the Yeoja area of Jinhae. Urban regeneration may seem like just architecture at first glance, but it contains culture and arts unique to the region. Above all, it is a long-term project to attract young people. We are continuously communicating with residents by collecting successful urban regeneration cases nearby and striving to carry out urban regeneration that local people want. Also, there is a trend of young entrepreneurs from Seoul and Daegu moving down to Jinhae. Riding this trend, if the commercial district renaissance project and Saetteul Village urban regeneration project succeed together, it is expected that more young people will be attracted."

- What are your plans as a politician going forward?

"I want to continue what I am doing now. Actually, people around me say, 'You have served three terms, so you should go to the provincial council' (laughs), but I want to focus more on urban regeneration and amateur artists as mentioned earlier. Other local governments may have failed cases, but I have the ambition to make sure our neighborhood succeeds. Above all, I enjoy communicating with local residents through urban regeneration and talking with young people who enjoy and dream of culture and arts. I hope this joy and urgency will nurture local artists and contribute to the success of urban regeneration projects."

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