Hong Taeyong, Mayor of Gimhae, "City-run Kim Youngwon Art Museum to Serve as Foundation for Cultural Welfare"

On the 26th, Hong Taeyong, mayor of Gimhae City, Gyeongnam, met with artist Kim Youngwon to discuss the establishment of the Gimhae City Kim Youngwon Art Museum.

According to the city, the Kim Youngwon Art Museum is planned to be built at the Gimhae Sports Complex, which is currently under construction for the 2024 National Sports Festival.

The city recently held a kickoff meeting for the feasibility study and basic planning service for the museum's establishment.

Through this service, the city plans to establish the optimal project plan in the first half of this year and complete the preliminary feasibility evaluation for the establishment of a public art museum by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism by July.

The city formed a task force with experts from the Gimhae Cultural Foundation to explore efficient operation methods, and on the 25th, held a citizen invitation forum to gather public opinions. In the future, a museum promotion committee involving experts will be organized.

Hong Tae-yong, Mayor of Gimhae, Gyeongnam (far left), is visiting the studio of artist Kim Young-won in Gyeonggi-do for a commemorative photo.
[Photo by Gimhae City Hall]

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On this day, artist Kim pledged to donate his work "Shadow of a Shadow - Flowers Bloom," a landmark piece at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, to Gimhae City in June this year.

He also expressed his intention to provide the original mold of the "King Sejong Statue at Gwanghwamun," currently being restored at his own expense of 100 million KRW, once the Gimhae City Kim Youngwon Art Museum is established.

Following his donation of three representative works to Gimhae City in November last year, he plans to donate more than 150 additional works in the first half of this year.

Mayor Hong said, "We will ensure that the National Sports Festival held in October next year becomes a cultural sports festival," adding, "The Gimhae City Kim Youngwon Art Museum, which will serve as a stepping stone for the 2024 Year of Visit Gimhae, will be established without delay as a hub for arts education in Gyeongnam and a human-centered art museum without blind spots, laying the foundation for universal cultural welfare that enriches everyday life."

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