Lee Jangwoo: "Promoting the 'K-Culture & Arts Hub' 2030 Plan for Daejeon"

"Supporting Designated Arts Organizations Will Also Boost the Youth Economy"

Lee Jangwoo, candidate for Mayor of Daejeon from the People Power Party, stated, "Daejeon's arts scene is completely divided into the eras before and after Mayor Lee Jangwoo," adding, "Based on the expansion of cultural and artistic infrastructure during the 8th popularly-elected administration, we have provided strong support. We are now pursuing a '2030 Plan' to elevate Daejeon as a 'K-Culture & Arts Hub'."

On May 11, at a press conference held at his campaign office, Lee announced his fourth round of policies for culture, arts, and the cultural industry, making these remarks.

Regarding Heo Taejeong's pledge to abolish the Daejeon Midnight Festival, Lee criticized, "Other cities envy successful festivals like the Daejeon Midnight Festival, and Gwangju Broadcasting even aired a special feature on it. More than two million people visited the festival site, creating an economic effect of over 400 billion won. It has significantly boosted the Daejeon bakery industry, including Seongsimdang, and countless promotional activities on social media have led to such popularity that there is now a waiting culture at Daejeon's famous restaurants. To abolish this festival is irresponsible."

In this policy pledge, Lee promised to promote the following: ▲ Creation of a Second Arts Complex ▲ Establishment of three major history, culture, and arts clusters ▲ Fostering the advanced video and webtoon cultural industry ▲ Building a support system for Daejeon-designated arts organizations ▲ Activating artist-in-residence programs, aiming to simultaneously grow culture, arts, city branding, tourism, and the youth economy.

Lee emphasized, "Cultural and artistic activities are no longer simply a matter of supporting events; they are a core strategic industry that determines the city's future competitiveness," adding, "Going forward, we will develop this into a world-class cultural industry ecosystem."

◆ Daejeon advances as a cultural city based on the achievements of the 8th popularly-elected administration's cultural policies

Lee highlighted the major cultural policy achievements of the 8th administration, including: ▲ Promotion of the Second Arts Complex ▲ Establishment of special video and webtoon clusters ▲ Restoration of the former Daejeon Provincial Government Office ▲ Creation of the Daejeon Studies Power Plant ▲ Opening of the Taemi Literary Museum and Choi Jongtae Art Museum ▲ Founding of the Daejeon Art Philharmonic Orchestra and Daejeon Art Choir.

He also emphasized the growth in city branding content and tourism, such as the Daejeon Midnight Festival and Kkumssi Family.

In contrast, he pointed out that several key pledges from the 7th administration—such as returning the House of Artists to the public, creating a living culture hub, and founding municipal theater and opera companies—were largely unfulfilled or practically abandoned.

◆ Establishment of the 'Second Arts Complex' at Jungchon Neighborhood Park

Lee announced plans to create a large-scale cultural and artistic hub in the Jungchon Neighborhood Park area to address regional imbalances in Daejeon's cultural and artistic infrastructure.

First, a music-only performance hall will be built at a total project cost of 329.5 billion won, featuring a 2,050-seat concert hall and a 490-seat chamber hall.

Additionally, a Second Municipal Art Museum will be constructed at a total project cost of 170.5 billion won, equipped with permanent and special exhibition halls, educational rooms, and creative spaces, expanding the current museum to roughly twice its size.

Moreover, specialized art museums focusing on Daejeon-affiliated artists, as well as music and art creators' residency programs, will be expanded and operated in stages.

Lee stated, "We will ensure that Daejeon citizens can fully enjoy cultural and artistic infrastructure, which is currently concentrated in the capital region," adding, "We will complete a cultural city that enhances the quality of life for citizens."

◆ Building three major history, culture, and arts clusters as representative hotspots of modern Korea

Lee pledged to develop Daejeon's original downtown into one of Korea's leading historical and cultural tourism destinations by establishing three major clusters for history, culture, and the arts.

The Soje-dong History and Culture Cluster will link Soje Central Culture Park, Lee Jongsoo Ceramic Hall, Songja Old House, and the Railway Official Village to foster a nationwide tourism hub that combines railway, modern, and Confucian culture of the Chungcheong region.

Plans also include the creation of a Railway History Theme Park utilizing the railway supply warehouse and historical content from the Daejeon Battle during the Korean War.

Furthermore, the Daeheung-Banking District Culture, Exhibition, and Local Convention Cluster will develop pop-up stores for the Daejeon brand, historical and cultural exhibition halls, and spaces for youth cultural and artistic exhibitions and conventions, centered on the former Daejeon Provincial Government Office.

In particular, by linking Daeheung-dong Cathedral, Catholic Culture Center, Daejeon Gallery, and Seongsimdang Culture Center, the area will be fostered as a cultural district focused on youth arts and local brands.

There will also be artist-in-residence programs for music and theater, as well as the 'Daejeon Visiting Artist Guesthouse.'

Additionally, the Taemi Literary Theme Cluster will link the Taemi Literary Museum, Daeheung Waterworks, and Taemi Ore to establish a leading literary creation hub in Korea.

In the Daeheung Waterworks area, a 'Cherry Blossom Forest Literary Park' will be created, along with exclusive creative cafes for poets, novelists, and essayists, as well as literary writers' residencies.

◆ Establishing Daejeon as a hub for Korea's video and webtoon industry

Lee also proposed strategies to develop Daejeon into Korea's leading advanced cultural industry city.

First, a webtoon IP advanced cluster will be established in the Daejeon city convergence special zone, providing spaces for webtoon companies and creators, technical support facilities, and educational spaces.

In the Expo Park area, a special video convergence content cluster will be built, connecting with facilities like Studio Cube and Content Korea Lab to create a hub for the K-video industry.

The currently operating 'Daejeon Special Video Film Festival' will be expanded into the 'Daejeon Global Special Video Film Festival' on a global scale.

◆ Introducing Daejeon-designated arts organizations with annual support of 300 million won

To improve the inefficiency of the current system centered on national and public arts organizations, Lee announced plans to introduce Daejeon-designated arts organizations to strengthen the competitiveness of private arts groups.

Starting with theater, support will be gradually expanded to traditional Korean music and dance. Each of the three designated organizations will receive an annual subsidy of 300 million won, with an additional 300 million won provided for management, promotion, and marketing consulting, totaling 1.2 billion won in support.

Lee envisions Daejeon as a city where artists gather and citizens are happy through culture, recognizing that artists are the key assets shaping the city's dignity and future.

He concluded, "Through the culture, arts, and content industry, we will complete a new model of a cultural city where youth employment, tourism, and the local economy grow together."