Ministry of Culture and National Library Committee to Hold Regional Cooperation Policy Meeting

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Presidential National Library Committee will hold the '2025 Regional Cooperation Policy Meeting' for the 17 Metropolitan Library Committees nationwide on November 28 at the Royal Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul.

This meeting has been organized to support the effectiveness and on-site implementation of the '4th Comprehensive Library Development Plan (2024-2028)', which was reviewed and finalized by the 8th National Library Committee. Through this event, the Ministry and the Committee aim to strengthen policy cooperation between the central and local governments and enhance the capacity for promoting library policies based on local communities.

This year’s meeting will focus on mutually beneficial development directions that link regional cultural policies with the role of libraries as the core agenda.

First, Kim Yeonjin, Director of the Research Center for Cultural and Artistic Value Expansion at the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, will give a presentation on 'Mutually Beneficial Development Directions for Regional Cultural Policy and Libraries.' The presentation will propose policy directions for libraries to function as key hubs for public-private cooperation in regional culture, in response to changes in local communities such as population decline and weakening regional identity. It will also discuss ways to strengthen the foundation for cultural autonomy by linking the regional cultural ecosystem with library policy, and present concrete implementation measures to realize the regional strategies of the 4th plan at the field level.

Next, Park Sungjae, Professor of Knowledge, Information, and Culture Track at Hansung University, will share the achievements of the 'Policy Support for Establishing Mid- to Long-Term Library Plans by Metropolitan Governments (Gwangju and Gyeongnam).' This initiative, launched for the first time this year by the Ministry and the Committee, supports metropolitan governments in systematically establishing mid- to long-term library plans that reflect the social, industrial, and cultural characteristics of their regions. The presentation will introduce various policy models linked to regional specialized industries, including AI-based service innovation in Gwangju, the establishment of an aerospace specialized library in Gyeongnam, the construction of an ultra-wide regional archive for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, the strengthening of local material collection, and the enhancement of joint preservation storage facilities.

In addition, the meeting will include broad discussions on the operational status of the 17 Metropolitan Library Committees nationwide, the cooperation system between metropolitan and basic libraries, and measures to systematize and enhance the effectiveness of regional mid- to long-term library policies. The Metropolitan Library Committee is a statutory body that deliberates on the balanced development of regional libraries, guarantees access to knowledge and information, and strengthens regional identity.

Kim Yongseop, Director of Regional Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "Libraries are key infrastructure connecting the production, distribution, and enjoyment of regional culture, and are public cultural facilities that enhance the quality of life for local residents. The Ministry will strengthen the cooperation system between the central and local governments to ensure the smooth implementation of the 4th plan, and will actively support regional libraries so that they can create sustainable local cultures by leveraging the unique characteristics and competitiveness of each region."

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