A multi-cultural space combining a performance venue, practice rooms, a library, an exhibition hall, and dwellings for artists will be created on the site of the National Theater Company of Korea, located to the left of Seoul Station.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism noted that on the morning of 5th, a memorandum of understanding was signed at the Seoul Museum of Modern Art with the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) and Seogye Cultural Center for the establishment of the 'Seogye-dong multi-cultural space.'
The Seogye-dong multi-cultural space will be built on the 7,904.5 square meters (approximately 2,395 pyeong) site of the National Theater Company of Korea, located about a 5-minute walk from Seoul Station. It will be a new form that combines four performance venues, ten practice rooms, a creation space, a library specialized in performances, an exhibition hall, office facilities, and sales facilities, along with job-linked support dwellings for artists.
According to this agreement, upon completion of the facilities by the project implementer Seogye Cultural Center, the ownership of the facilities will belong to the state and local governments. The Seogye Cultural Center will operate the facilities for 20 years and generate revenue. The LH will create rental housing for artists and will donate it to the state (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) after generating revenue for 30 years.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to establish performance practice rooms, studios, and stage storage at the National Theater of Korea in Namsan by 2026, in addition to Seogye-dong. The National Jeongdong Theater aims to expand its performance venues and convenience facilities, targeting completion in 2029. The Myeongdong Arts Theater plans to activate the performance facilities to attract more citizens and tourists.
Minister Yoo In-chon said, "The creation of the new type multi-cultural space in Seogye-dong, following the 'Namsan Performing Arts Belt' and the reconstruction of the National Jeongdong Theater, will lay a solid foundation for the growth of the performing arts industry," adding that he expects the supply of rental housing for artists to enhance welfare and become a cradle for creation and production.