Seo District, Gwangju Opens Hyo Village Community Center: A New Space for Resident Solidarity Continuing the May 18 Rice Ball Spirit

A Five-Story Multi-Purpose Cultural Space Established in Yangdong
Customized Facilities Including Community Kitchen and Life Culture Center Now Open

Seo District, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeonnam Province, has opened the Hyo Village Community Center, a multi-purpose cultural space for residents that carries on the spirit of sharing and solidarity demonstrated by Yangdong Market merchants during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

On the 13th, Seo District announced that it held the opening ceremony for the Hyo Village Community Center, established at 7, Dongnip-ro 200beon-gil, Yangdong, and has officially begun its operations.

The Hyo Village Community Center was developed as part of a living SOC (Social Overhead Capital) project aimed at improving residents’ quality of life and revitalizing the community. The center was built with a total project cost of 5.1 billion won, covering a total floor area of 800 square meters and consisting of five floors above ground.

Notably, the center has been designed as a modern space that continues the communal spirit demonstrated by Yangdong Market merchants in May 1980, when they shared rice balls with the civilian militia during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu, Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, holds a plaque ceremony with attendees on the 13th at Yangdong Hyo Village Eoulrim Center. Provided by Seo-gu, Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City

The community kitchen on the first floor serves as a place where residents can cook and share meals together, and also hosts “Janggeumine Cooking Class,” where seniors share their culinary secrets. The second floor features a small library accessible to all generations, and the third floor’s Children’s Health Experience Center offers health programs for children. In addition, the fourth floor’s Life Culture Center will be used as a community space for resident club activities, cultural and artistic lectures, and residents’ self-governance meetings, providing a variety of resident-led programs.

The opening ceremony was attended by Seo District Mayor Kim Igang, members of the Yangdong Residents’ Council, and local residents, who celebrated the opening of the center and marked the beginning of this new community hub.

Seo District Mayor Kim Igang stated, “The Hyo Village Community Center will become the center of a ‘21st-century rice ball community’ where residents communicate and share warmth together. Based on active resident participation, we will spread positive influence by neighbors helping neighbors and build Seo District into a virtuous city founded on sharing, solidarity, and trust.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.