Gwangju Dong-gu Opens 'Dong-gu Humanities Academy' to Preserve Architectural Assets at Risk of Demolition

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] Dong-gu, Gwangju (Mayor Im Taek) announced that it will open and begin operating the 'Dong-gu Humanities Academy' on the 7th by remodeling the modern house in Dongmyeong-dong to support residents' humanities activities.

At the opening ceremony held that day, following COVID-19 prevention guidelines, Mayor Im Taek of Dong-gu and related officials and residents attended, and a facility tour was conducted guided by architect Choi Gwi-dong, who designed the Dong-gu Humanities Academy.

The Dong-gu Humanities Academy is planned to be operated as a representative symbolic space unique to Dong-gu, which aims to be a 'humanities city,' serving as a hub for humanities-related creation and exchange activities.

The modern house in Dongmyeong-dong, reborn as the Dong-gu Humanities Academy, was built in 1954 and features a unique architectural style blending Korean, Western, and Japanese elements.

Originally, Dong-gu planned to develop the site as a public parking lot, but following local residents' demands to preserve the modern house with architectural value, it was decided to conserve it and develop it as a humanities facility for residents' regular use.

The 'Dong-gu Humanities Academy' consists of the main building remodeled from the existing modern house, a newly extended Humanities Hall, a shared kitchen, and landscaped spaces. The main building preserves the original form as much as possible and is arranged with exhibition spaces showcasing the house's history, multipurpose rooms, and a tea room.

The 'Dong-gu Humanities Academy' is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed every Monday and on public holidays. For more details, inquiries can be made to the Humanities City Policy Division.

Kim Young-ja, a child of the late Kim Seong-chae, the former owner of the house, said, "I feel deeply moved that the house where I spent my childhood has not been demolished but reborn as the Dong-gu Humanities Academy," adding, "I hope many residents visit this house, which had been empty for a long time, and that it becomes a space where the warmth of people gathers again."

Mayor Im said, "I am pleased to have preserved this architectural asset, which was at risk of demolition but held the stories of the village, and returned it to the residents," and added, "We will spare no support so that residents can carry out voluntary and proactive humanities activities in this space representing the humanities city of Dong-gu."

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