Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism takes outreach to Gangwon

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday that Minister Choi Hwi-young visited Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province to hear local concerns and strengthen cooperation between the central and provincial governments on cultural, sports and tourism policy. The ministry said the outreach was organized to turn first-hand input from regional sites into effective policies.

At the provincial government office, Choi met Governor Woo Sang-ho, who sought deeper central-government cooperation on regional tourism, culture-led improvements in living conditions and a multipurpose cultural hub at the Wonju livestock-breeding site. Choi outlined the ministry's direction for the Dream Arts Troupe, Culture Day and expanded support for independent music. The two sides agreed to continue close working-level consultations on regional issues and policy tasks.

At the National Chuncheon Museum, Choi inspected cooling equipment and outdoor amenities amid a continuing heat wave, asking officials to provide a safe and comfortable visitor environment. He also inspected the labor environment to guard against heat-related illnesses among outdoor workers and encouraged staff. Choi called for the museum to continue developing distinctive exhibition plans that draw on regional characteristics.

At the Chuncheon Bandabi National Sports Center, he reviewed operations at the social-integration sports facility shared by disabled and non-disabled people and discussed improving user convenience and promoting programs with staff. He stressed such facilities' role in encouraging disabled people's participation in everyday sports and supporting community integration, and pledged continued efforts to create a disability-friendly environment where everyone can use facilities safely and conveniently.

Choi said the ministry would continue to back local cultural policies. "We will spare no support so that the distinctive cultural value of each region can become a source of competitiveness for South Korea as a whole," he said. He plans to visit other regions, listen to voices from the field and incorporate them into policy "to make changes that people can feel."