Minister Choi Huie Young Meets Governor Lee Cheol-woo to Discuss Culture and Tourism Cooperation in Gyeongbuk

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Huie Young met with Governor Lee Cheol-woo of Gyeongsangbuk-do at the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Office on the 12th to listen to major issues in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism in Gyeongbuk and to discuss ways of cooperation.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Minister Choi attended an exchange event for the tourism industry between Korea and China in Andong the previous day and visited key tourist sites in Gyeongbuk to explore ways to attract more foreign visitors to the region.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwee-young Choi is taking a commemorative photo with Governor Cheolwoo Lee of Gyeongbuk Province at Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office in Andong, Gyeongbuk on the 12th. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Governor Lee explained the strategies for regional development utilizing Gyeongbuk's abundant cultural heritage and tourism resources during his meeting with Minister Choi. He stressed the need to establish the World Gyeongju Forum as a regular event, to found the Gyeongju APEC International Cultural Center (provisional name), and to renovate the Bomun Tourism Complex. He stated, "For the future development of the region, the roles of culture, sports, and tourism are crucial, and large-scale national investment is necessary to achieve this."

In response, Minister Choi emphasized the importance of improving local living conditions and revitalizing regional tourism through culture, sports, and tourism. He said, "To welcome an era of 30 million foreign visitors to Korea, it is necessary to disperse tourism demand currently concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area to the regions." He added, "To do so, it is important to actively discover tourism content that allows visitors to experience the unique charm of Gyeongbuk, utilizing major national events such as the Gyeongju APEC summit and the region’s distinct tourist resources."

He also introduced major policies of the ministry, including the 'Our Neighborhood Project,' which aims to expand opportunities for cultural enjoyment in local communities. He stressed, "For policies to work effectively on the ground and to deliver tangible outcomes that people can feel, close communication and cooperation between central and local governments are essential."

Minister Choi stated, "Regions are no longer just recipients of support or benefits from the central government." He continued, "Going forward, local governments must play a role in working together with the central government to draw up the big picture for cultural and tourism development in their regions." He added, "The matters discussed this time will be carefully managed so they can be implemented concretely on the ground through follow-up practical consultations and coordination."

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