Establishment of Local Government Association for Later Baekje Cultural Zone in Jeonju

Participation from Jeonju, Wanju, Jangsu, Jinan, Mungyeong, Sangju, Nonsan, etc... Kim Seung-su, Mayor of Jeonju, Elected as Inaugural President

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] A council has been launched for seven cities and counties in the Later Baekje cultural zone, including Jeonju City, to properly investigate the history and culture of Later Baekje, a key player in the Later Three Kingdoms period, and to develop it as a tourism resource.

On the 26th, the seven cities and counties of the Later Baekje cultural zone, including Jeonju, held the inauguration ceremony and academic conference of the Later Baekje Cultural Zone Local Government Council at the Korean Traditional Culture Center performance hall.

The Later Baekje Cultural Zone Local Government Council, established on this day to investigate the history and culture of Later Baekje and establish its identity, includes member institutions from cities and counties with cultural heritage related to the rise and fall of Later Baekje: Jeonju, Wanju, Jangsu, and Jinan in Jeonbuk; Mungyeong and Sangju in Gyeongbuk; and Nonsan in Chungnam.

Attending the inauguration ceremony were Kim Seung-su, Mayor of Jeonju; Kim Seong-myeong, Deputy Governor of Wanju; Kim Chang-yeol, Deputy Governor of Jinan; Lee Hee-seong, Deputy Governor of Jangsu; Joo Seon-dong, Director of Administrative Welfare Bureau of Sangju; Kim Jin-su, Director of Donggodongrak Bureau of Nonsan; and Eom Won-sik, Director of Culture and Arts Department of Mungyeong. Members of private organizations related to Later Baekje, including Song Hwa-seop, President of the Later Baekje Society, and academic experts also graced the event. Song Ha-jin, Governor of Jeonbuk Province, congratulated the launch of the local government council via video message.

Kim Seung-su, Mayor of Jeonju, who has been leading the practical discussions for the council's launch, was elected as the inaugural chairman of the council and will lead it for the next two years. The vice chairman position was taken by Go Yun-hwan, Mayor of Mungyeong.

Going forward, the seven cities and counties including Jeonju will hold biannual meetings of heads of local governments to conduct surveys on the status of cultural heritage and research in the Later Baekje cultural zone, and cooperate on excavation investigations and academic research related to the historical and cultural zone.

They also plan to develop tourism revitalization projects centered on the Later Baekje area.

Furthermore, they intend to encourage additional participation from other local governments and prepare response strategies to include the Later Baekje historical and cultural zone in the ‘Special Act on the Maintenance of Historical and Cultural Areas’.

Kim Seung-su, Mayor of Jeonju, said, “With the launch of the Later Baekje Cultural Zone Local Government Council, we can accelerate efforts to establish and reexamine the identity of the brilliant history of Later Baekje.” He added, “We will further enhance the status of Later Baekje as a historical and cultural space encompassing not only Jeonbuk but also Chungnam and Gyeongbuk regions.”

Meanwhile, following the inauguration ceremony, an academic conference was held to commemorate the launch of the council and to urge the enactment of a special law for the Later Baekje cultural zone. The conference, themed ‘Identity and Scope of Later Baekje,’ began with a keynote speech by Song Hwa-seop, President of the Later Baekje Society, followed by presentations from Lee Do-hak, Professor at the Korean Traditional Culture University; Choi Heung-seon, Director of the National Iksan Museum; Jeong Sang-gi, Curator of the National Jeonju Museum; and Jin Jeong-hwan, Curator of the National Jeju Museum.

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

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