"From the City of Steel to the City of Art"... Pohang Museum of Art Envisions a New Artistic City

Customized Cultural and Arts Education for 130,000 Participants Across Generations
Growing Together with Citizens
Construction of the Second Pavilion
Creating a Future-Oriented Integrated Cultural Space in Harmony with Hwanho Park

Pohang Museum of Art is taking a significant step toward becoming a cultural city that connects the local community with the world through the construction of its Second Pavilion.

Having established itself as an open art platform that permeates the daily lives of citizens, Pohang Museum of Art is now embarking on a new journey to elevate the city’s cultural standing.

Since its opening in 2009, Pohang Museum of Art has been a leading public art museum that has infused a breath of culture into the industrial city image. Centered on its unique brand, 'Steel Art,' the museum has pioneered the fusion of metal and art, expanding the region's identity through artistic expression.

Over the past 16 years, the museum has showcased experimental exhibitions by domestic and international artists, growing into a cultural hub frequented by Pohang citizens and art enthusiasts nationwide. In particular, participatory art programs such as the 'Pohang Steel Art Festival' have become creative celebrations connecting the city, its citizens, and the arts.

To realize its vision as a 'museum together with citizens,' the museum has provided cultural and arts education for various generations, including children, youth, families, working professionals, and seniors, with approximately 130,000 participants to date. Integrated education programs designed to foster creativity and docent-led tours have received enthusiastic responses from the public.

Pohang Museum of Art has also pursued 'Pohang Art History Research' and 'Collection Archive Projects' to explore the identity of local art and strengthen the research function of public art museums. As a result, the museum was selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s 'Public Art Museum Archive Support Project' (2022, 2024) and the 'Public and Private Art Museum Conservation Support Project' (2019, 2023), establishing a solid research foundation.

In 2022, the museum became the first public art museum in Korea to introduce an augmented reality (AR) 'Outdoor Collection AR Docent Tour' app service, earning top honors at the 'Gyeongbuk Province Innovation and Active Administration Best Practices Competition.' In this way, Pohang Museum of Art is providing citizens with new artistic experiences in line with the digital transformation trend.

'Museum & Music,' a concert held on the last Thursday of every month, and 'Steel Art Workshop,' a hands-on program utilizing metal, have become signature programs that allow citizens to encounter art in their everyday lives. These initiatives are helping to enhance citizens’ cultural pride, moving beyond the city’s industrial image.

Pohang City is actively pursuing the construction of the Second Pavilion of Pohang Museum of Art as a key project in its cultural city initiative. With a total budget of 34 billion KRW, the new building will be located near the current museum in Hwanho Park, featuring two above-ground floors and a total floor area of 5,881 square meters, with completion targeted for 2027.

Bird's-eye view of the Second Art Museum.

The Second Pavilion will be created as a future-oriented, integrated cultural space where citizens can enjoy art in their daily lives and experience digital technology and convergent content, harmonizing with Hwanho Park. The existing First Pavilion will focus on collection, preservation, and research, while the Second Pavilion will serve as a citizen-oriented community space, expanding access to art and culture.

A Pohang City official stated, "We will continue to expand the local art ecosystem so that citizens can enjoy culture and the arts in their daily lives, elevate the dignity of the city, and foster pride as a cultural and artistic city."

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