Mokpo City Launches Full-Scale 'Revitalizing Old Downtown' Using Modern Buildings

Purchase of 10 Buildings Including Former Honam Bank Mokpo Branch for Tourism Hub Renovation and Maintenance

Comprehensive Maintenance Plan Rendering for Modern Historical and Cultural Space. Photo by Mokpo City Provided

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] Mokpo City, Jeollanam-do, is intensifying its revitalization project utilizing the buildings in the Mokpo Modern History and Culture Space.

According to the city on the 9th, a comprehensive maintenance plan has been established for the Manhodong and Yudaldong areas, designated as the nation's first registered cultural heritage at the myeon (township) level (No. 718). A full survey of modern architectural assets has been completed, and among these, 10 buildings approved by the Cultural Heritage Administration for public use have been purchased for repair and maintenance.

In particular, with large-scale events such as the nation's first literature expo, harbor festival, and cultural heritage night tour scheduled for October, efforts are being accelerated to transform the purchased buildings within the modern history and culture space into tourism hubs.

The former Honam Bank Mokpo Branch is being transformed into an exhibition and experience space featuring Mokpo’s artistic heritage as the hometown of K-TROT, with its opening scheduled for March 2022.

The former Gapjaok Hat Store, once the busiest Korean-owned shop in Mokpo 100 years ago, along with two adjacent buildings including the former Yamaha Outboard Motor Store, will be developed into the World Hat Museum to revive their symbolic value.

The former Daekwang Electronics commercial building, showcasing 1950s architectural style, is currently being used as a set for the film "Hwapyeong Banjeom," which centers on the Gwangju Democratization Movement. Since all filming is taking place in Mokpo, the film is expected to play a significant role in promoting the Mokpo Modern History and Culture Space.

The former Yudal Gardening Store and former Eins Wheel buildings are being utilized as sites for the preliminary cultural city project aimed at legal cultural city designation. These two buildings are being developed into the Komjirak Laboratory, equipped for 3D woodworking and music production, respectively, creating strong synergy between the preliminary cultural city project and urban regeneration efforts.

The former Peace Stationery Store and former Podowon Supermarket will be converted into open spaces through building demolition and maintenance, providing wide open rest areas for citizens and visitors while also improving the aesthetics of the modern history and culture space.

The former Deokkappe is being reborn as a sales space for a three-item snack set (Cotton Bread, Loquat Dacquoise, and Seasoned Seaweed Shrimp Chips), with operators to be recruited within this month.

A detached house located between Yudal Elementary School and the Modern History Museum 2 was finalized for operation and business plans through a public contest and announcement in July. The selected operator, Magic Travel Co., Ltd., will develop the space under the theme "Magic Cafe," offering magic experiences and education, selling magic props, and serving coffee designed with Mokpo tourist attractions.

Kim Jongsik, Mayor of Mokpo, stated, "We are fully prepared so that visitors traveling through time to the roofless museum, the modern city of Mokpo, can eat, see, and enjoy to their heart’s content. This coming fall, we hope everyone experiences the most vivid Newtro sensibility in Mokpo."

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