A $58 million youth cultural center will be established in the Cheonggye Agricultural Industrial Complex in Muan, aimed at enhancing cultural, welfare, and convenience facilities for young workers.
The Muan County government announced that the Cheonggye complex was selected as a project site for the Youth Cultural Center under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's '2026 Industrial Complex Environment Improvement Project,' securing 4 billion won in national funding.
According to the announcement made by the Ministry on September 30, the Youth Cultural Center project includes three locations nationwide: Cheonggye in Muan, Sanam Industrial Complex in Sacheon, and Asan Techno Valley in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. The government will provide a total of 12 billion won, with 4 billion won allocated to each site.
Muan County plans to invest a total of 58 billion won, combining the secured 4 billion won in national funding with an additional 1.8 billion won from local funds.
The youth cultural center will be a three-story building within the Cheonggye complex, featuring facilities such as a management office, club rooms, multipurpose rooms, safety training rooms, a book café, and a sports center to support the cultural, welfare, and convenience needs of workers.
While the Cheonggye Agricultural Industrial Complex plays a significant role in local production and job creation, primarily in manufacturing and ceramics, there has been a recognized need for improved cultural, welfare, and convenience facilities for workers.
The county aims to utilize the center not just as a convenience facility for workers but as a multifunctional cultural space accessible to resident companies, young workers, and local residents. The plan includes linking cultural and educational programs with various exchange activities to enhance living conditions within the industrial complex and support the long-term retention of young workers.
The government also focuses on this project to expand cultural and convenience facilities in aging industrial complexes and transform them into spaces that attract young talent and new industries. This year, eight industrial complexes across the country were selected for the environment improvement project, receiving a total of 27.2 billion won in national funding.
Muan County will proceed with the necessary administrative procedures and detailed design in collaboration with relevant agencies, including the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, aiming to begin construction in 2028 and complete it by 2030.
Kim San, the mayor of Muan County, stated, “The selection of this project will improve the cultural and welfare conditions for workers in the Cheonggye Agricultural Industrial Complex and lay the foundation for creating an industrial environment where young people can live and work.” He added, “We will continue to expand the improvement of working conditions to Cheonggye, following Samhyang and Ilo, to enhance corporate competitiveness and revitalize the local economy.”
Meanwhile, Muan County is also working on establishing a youth cultural center in the Ilo Industrial Complex, following the creation of a multifunctional cultural center in the Samhyang Industrial Complex. With the expansion of the project to include Cheonggye, the county plans to continue enhancing cultural and welfare infrastructure tailored to the characteristics and needs of each industrial complex.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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