The old Jeju City center is being reborn as an arts district. All eyes are on its transformation from quiet area of the past... to thriving arts district with an eye on the future. Suejin Choi has more.


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Samdo-dong, Jeju City

Here at this workshop, you can make handicrafts based on the local Jeju god, Dongjaseok(동자석). Anyone can apply... to make one-of-a-kind art works that also include pottery, hand painting, and storybooks.

500 people have already registered. You can also find cafes and art shops as well as attend art lectures in this multi-purpose arts venue.

[INTERVIEW]
Yoon Seong-jae / Artist
To really bring life to this new arts district, we need to let residents of the area know what’s going on and give them an opportunity to interact with the artists.
<인터뷰 : 윤성재 / 00아트샵>
"우선 이곳이 활성화되려면 지역주민부터 입주작가들이 어떤 활동을 하는 지 알고 있고 같이 체험프로그램에 참여하므로써
-----------------수퍼체인지----------
이곳이 좀 더 빠르게 활성화될 수 있을 것이라고 생각합니다."

It’s located in Samdo-2-dong(삼도이동)... which has been undergoing transformation under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism… after it was chosen by the government as one of the sites to be made into a cultural district.

[camera]
Park Byeong-joon

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\600m being invested through 2017

A total of 600 million won will be invested in the project until 2017… artists will be financially supported… and a large variety of cultural programs will be held here.

The aim is to turn the old city center into an area that combines history, culture and the arts.

[INTERVIEW]
Kim Seung-boo / Jeju City Culture & Arts Division
This area had become quite empty over the years, so we decided to transform it into a culture and arts district and bring life back into the neighborhood.
<인터뷰 : 김승부/ 제주시 문화예술담당>
"(삼도2동이) 상당히 공동화 현상이 발생해서 문화와 예술이 접목된
지역경제활성화가 필요하다고 느껴서… (이번 사업을 추진하게 되었습니다.)"

There are some hurdles to overcome though… like its out-of-the-way location and lack of parking spaces. Insiders say the project needs to be looked at from a long-term perspective.

[INTERVIEW]
Yoon Seong-jae / Artist
I think it will take at least 5 to 10 years before the culture and arts project really takes shape. We have to think of it as if we were raising a child.
<인터뷰 : 윤성재/00아트샵>
"문화예술사업은 짧게는 5년에서 10년간 지켜보고
지속적으로 아이를 키우듯이 키워나가야 한다고 생각하거든요."

[REPORTER]
Suejin Choi

All eyes are on the future of this district and how it will transform over the next several years into a lively cultural venue for the arts.

Suejin Choi, KCTV.