"Site Consolidation Not Feasible"... Wando Bets on Two-Track Approach for Lifelong Learning Center, Library

Administrative constraints confirmed after working-level review
Matching investment, a must-have for other cities and counties, is crucial
15 billion won county library to proceed as planned at site in front of credit union

Wando County in Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City’s bid to host a large-scale “lifelong learning center” has entered a new phase as it intersects with the county’s plans to build its own “complex cultural library.”

The proposal initially under discussion to combine the sites for the lifelong learning center and county library fell through after a review by working-level officials. Wando County has now swiftly shifted to a “two-track” strategy, pursuing the two projects separately.

Wando County Library

According to Wando County’s Culture and Arts Division on October 23, Governor Kim Shin finalized his position during a meeting with the Wando Office of Education on October 20, concluding that the proposal—discussed as a leading option—to relocate the library to a site near Jinarichae and build the two facilities together was not feasible in practice.

The county determined that relocating the library to a new site at this stage would require restarting all administrative procedures from scratch, as the project has already secured national funding following a preliminary feasibility assessment by central government agencies and is in the design phase. This would make it inevitable that substantial funding would have to be returned and the project significantly delayed.

As a result, the Culture and Arts Division has settled on building the lifelong learning center, led by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City Office of Education, and the complex cultural library, led by the county, separately at the most suitable sites for each.

Above all, Wando County’s proactive matching investment—providing a site and budget support—is seen as key to securing the large-scale lifelong learning center that local residents have long hoped for. A review of public library and related facility projects led by education offices in other cities and counties shows that matching investment by local governments is effectively a prerequisite.

Among projects already completed, for example, the Boseong Public Library, with a total project cost of 6.9 billion won, received 1 billion won (14.5%) and a site from the local government. Haenam and Jindo also provided 1.7 billion won (26.6%) and 1.5 billion won (45.5%), respectively.

Local governments are also contributing to projects currently underway. For the Gangjin Dasan Student Training Center, with a total project cost of 169.3 billion won, the local government is providing a total of 13 billion won for land purchases and infrastructure development. The Yeongam Public Library is receiving 5 billion won and a site, while the Sinan Public Library is receiving 700 million won in budget support as well as a site.

With Governor Kim Shin having expressed his willingness to cooperate with construction of the lifelong learning center, the time has come for a strong commitment to proactive matching investment and cooperation, including support for a site and infrastructure, through close communication between the institutions.

Meanwhile, the separate 15 billion won project to build Wando County’s complex cultural library is expected to get back on track, after various twists and turns, at the originally planned site in front of the Wando-eup credit union.

“We are planning an open, multipurpose cultural space where visitors can enjoy cultural experiences and relaxation at the same time, with an open-plan book cafe on the first floor,” said Kim Hyeon-ran, head of the Culture and Arts Division, who is overseeing the project. “We will provide ample space for a ‘children’s library’ where children can learn naturally through play, creating a truly family-friendly community space.”

The county will hold a community briefing session at the Wando County Youth Center on October 30 and actively incorporate local residents’ views on the library’s spatial design into the plans.

As the large-scale lifelong learning center and innovative complex cultural library projects—which had been shrouded in uncertainty over site selection and other issues—enter a new phase, aided by the practical two-track alternative and the local government’s commitment to matching investment, attention is turning to whether Wando County can firmly establish itself as a leading hub for lifelong learning and culture.

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