Jeonju City Begins Construction of 'Independent Film House'... 72 Billion KRW Invested

Scheduled for Completion in October 2026 at Okto Parking Lot Site
One-Stop Center for Independent Film Production, Distribution, and Screening

On the 18th, Jeonju City in North Jeolla Province announced that it has begun construction of the 'Jeonju Independent Film House' on the site of the former Okto Parking Lot in Gosa-dong, Film Street.

The Jeonju Independent Film House is scheduled to be built by October 2026 with a total project cost of 72 billion KRW, including national funds. It will be constructed on the former Okto Parking Lot site, with a total floor area of 13,702 square meters, consisting of one basement floor and four above-ground floors.

Bird's-eye view of Jeonju Independent Film House. Provided by Jeonju City.

The building will house ▲ an independent art film 'Larchiveum' (library + archive + museum) ▲ three dedicated screening rooms (206 seats, 144 seats, 133 seats) ▲ post-production facilities (color grading room, sound mastering room) ▲ office space for the Jeonju International Film Festival, and will also feature an outdoor plaza.

The city expects that once the Jeonju Independent Film House is completed, it will function as a platform space that can provide one-stop support for all processes from production to distribution and screening of independent art films. It will also support various film-related events, including the Jeonju International Film Festival, contributing to the creation of a film industry ecosystem and revitalization of the original downtown area.

In line with the vision of 'Jeonju, the Global Capital of the Film and Video Industry' announced last October, the city plans to establish a Korean Film Technology Academy on Film Street in Gosa-dong along with the construction of the Jeonju Independent Film House. This will create a global hub for innovative film and video technology education and attract the national strategic project 'K-Content Complex Cultural District,' adding dynamic K-content attractions such as festivals and parades.

Additionally, starting with the 'Shoot in Jeonju' scenario contest, which has been ongoing since October, the city will work to secure and support cultural content IP. It also plans to expand the designation of the original downtown area, including Film Street, as a cultural industry promotion district, fostering a startup ecosystem for the film and broader cultural industries.

The city began designing the Jeonju Independent Film House in 2022, but the discovery of the northwestern base of Jeonjubuseong Fortress on the project site led to significant time spent on design changes, including expanding the underground parking lot (206 spaces), and negotiating increased project costs.

As the overall project schedule has been delayed, the city plans to expedite construction by quickly establishing an on-site office and thoroughly carrying out preliminary preparations such as cultural heritage protection measures and site clearing.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Jeonju Independent Film House is scheduled for March next year, taking weather conditions into consideration.

Mayor Woo Beomgi said, "The Independent Film House will be a strong supporter for independent art film creators and a cultural space where citizens can experience a variety of films. We expect this to be an opportunity for Jeonju to make great strides as a global center of independent art film and to revitalize the original downtown area."

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