The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said they will hold an integrated call for entries for the "2026 culture-leading industrial complex" selection from the 5th to Feb. 6 next year.
The culture-leading industrial complex project is a government agenda that integrates culture into industrial complexes to create a vibrant environment that attracts young people. Reflecting the main industries and historical characteristics of the complex, it builds an integrated brand and landmark, and provides comprehensive support for the programs of related ministries, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI)'s industrial complex restructuring and advancement project, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST)'s support program for industrial complex–specific cultural programs, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT)'s old industrial complex regeneration project.
Selected complexes receive comprehensive support through the MCST's "support program for industrial complex–specific cultural programs," the MOTI's "restructuring and advancement project," and the MOLIT's "old industrial complex regeneration project." Last year, the Gumi, Changwon, and Wanju complexes were selected as culture-leading industrial complexes and received various support.
This year's call targets all industrial complexes that are completed or in operation. Metropolitan and basic local governments can draw up a plan to create a culture-leading industrial complex that reflects the characteristics of the complex, its location conditions, and worker composition, and submit it to the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation (KICOX).
The government plans to make a final selection of three sites through a document review, on-site due diligence, and presentation screening by an evaluation committee composed of experts recommended by each ministry.
After selection, related institutions such as the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation (KICOX), the Regional Culture Promotion Agency, and the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS) will refine the detailed plans through consulting, with an agreement to be signed in April next year.
The integrated call guidelines, which include the application period, support conditions, and detailed information for each project for the culture-leading industrial complex development, can be found on the KICOX website. In addition, a briefing session on the culture-leading industrial complex project will be held on the 9th at Sangyeonjae Seoul Station.
Lee Jeong-woo, director general for culture and arts policy at the MCST, said, "Culture is the key driver to restore the vitality of industrial complexes," adding, "We will actively support industrial complexes so they can become places where young people want to stay."