Culture minister meets Gwangju-Jeonnam governor to discuss regional cooperation

South Korea's culture minister met the mayor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City on Saturday to discuss cooperation on culture, sports and tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said.

Minister Choi Hwi-young held the meeting with Mayor Min Hyung-bae in Yeosu, on the sidelines of the 2026 Month of Culture ceremony, to hear regional policy requests and set out the ministry's direction. The ministry said the meeting was arranged to identify the changed regional conditions and policy demands that followed the launch of the integrated special city.

Min asked for attention and support on three projects: the construction of a rowing course in Gokseong County, the Asia Culture Center city development project and the 109th National Sports Festival in 2028.

Choi said bringing forward an era of 30 million foreign visitors requires tourism demand to spread beyond the Seoul metropolitan area to regions across the country. He said he expects the Gwangju-Jeonnam region to play a central role, citing its combination of sea, islands and cultural resources in the Honam area, as in Yeosu, where the Month of Culture event is being held.

He asked the integrated special city to pay particular attention to developing tourism content based on local stories and to building the infrastructure that lets visitors stay comfortably and enjoy the region.

"Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City is South Korea's first integrated special city, and it is the place best able to show what changes when regions combine their strengths," Choi said. "Let us ensure that the ministry and the integrated special city exchange views on culture, sports and tourism affairs and cooperate on a regular basis going forward."

The ministry's regional culture policy division, headed by Lee Kwan-pyo, handled the meeting.