Culture Ministry selects 13 regions for its pilot 'Korea Culture City' project

Expo Tower in Sokcho, Gangwon, is pictured. [NEWS1]

The Culture Ministry selected 13 cities and counties in Korea for its "Korea Culture City" project, it said Friday.

The project has been drawn up as part of the Yoon Suk Yeol government's initiative to promote "balanced cultural development" in regions outside Seoul.

The selected cities and counties will have a year to organize and run programs for tourists from in and outside the country with its new or existing cultural assets.

After the one-year trial ends, the ministry will formally designate select regions as Korea Culture City in 2025 after an evaluation and offer up to 260 billion won ($201 million) in funding for tourism projects over three years from 2025.

The ministry said the project is expected to bring 20 million people to 20,000 cultural attractions, create 3,000 new jobs and generate a positive economic impact.

The selected 13 regions are: Daegu's Suseong District, Busan's Suyeong District; Sejong; Anseong, Gyeonggi; Sokcho, Gangwon; Suncheon, South Jeolla, Andong, North Gyeongsang; Jeonju, North Jeolla; Jindo County, South Jeolla; Jinju, South Gyeongsang; Chungju, North Chungcheong; Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang and Hongseong, South Chungcheong.

"The most important aspect of culture is being different," Culture Minister Yu In-chon said in a press release on Friday. "The region's unique culture is the source of pride for residents and the force that garners people to the region."

"The Ministry of Culture will not only select cities but also present a new model demonstrating how culture can transform entire cities in collaboration with local governments," Yu added.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]