Minister Choi Hwiyeong Meets Mayor Min Hyeongbae to Discuss Culture, Sports and Tourism Cooperation

On October 17, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwiyeong met with Min Hyeongbae, mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, in Yeosu, Jeonnam-Gwangju, to hear about local issues in culture, sports and tourism and discuss ways for the central and local governments to work together.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Minister Choi visited Yeosu that day to attend the 2026 Culture Month ceremony. He met with Mayor Min to learn about changing local conditions and policy needs following the launch of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwiyeong poses for a commemorative photo with Min Hyeongbae, mayor of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, at Sono Calm Hotel in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, on the 17th. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Mayor Min explained how administrative conditions have changed since the launch of the integrated special city and asked the ministry for its attention and support on matters including the construction of a boat racing track in Gokseong County, the Asian Culture-Centered City Development Project and the 109th National Sports Festival in 2028.

Minister Choi stressed that, to bring forward the era of 30 million inbound tourists, tourism demand must extend beyond the Seoul metropolitan area to regions across the country. He added that he hopes Jeonnam-Gwangju, with its sea, islands and rich cultural resources of the Honam region, will play a central role in boosting regional tourism, as Yeosu is doing as this year's host of Culture Month. To that end, he urged the integrated special city to make a particular effort to develop tourism content rooted in local stories and build the infrastructure needed for visitors to stay comfortably and enjoy their trips.

“As Korea’s first integrated special city, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City is well positioned to be the first to show what can change when regions join forces,” Minister Choi said. “Going forward, let’s exchange views regularly and work together on matters related to culture, sports and tourism.”

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