A Change Agent: Gwangju, Hub City of Asian Culture

Term Paper

 

SUBJECT: 정책이론 (PUBLIC POLICY)

DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

UNIVERSITY: CHONNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

 

SUBMITTED TO: DR. J.K. SEO

PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

CHONNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

 

SUBMITTED BY: J. B. NANGPUHAN II

Student, Master Program in Public Administration

 

DATE SUBMITTED: 19 DECEMBER 2011

SPRING SEMESTER

INTRODUCTION

The Republic of Korea (or “Korea” for short) has become a major attraction to every corner of the world. Korea achieved high status not just economically but also its magnificent culture, rich history, beautiful tourist sites, unique food, and its people. The preservation of culture is one of Korea’s vision. Towards this end, this country initiated a policy establishing a Hub City of Asian Culture (HCAC) in Gwangju Metropolitan City. This paper will present the concept of HCAC in a collective perspective and a personal outlook on the effects of this policy to Korea in particular and to the world in general.

But first, it is significant to have a brief view about Korea. Why Korea? This question stemmed from the reality that other countries envied Korea. The Republic of Korea has remarkably grown to become one of the most dynamic and richest countries in the world. This great nation has its own amazing stories. People are asking: How did Korea achieved its present status in just a span of six decades after its independence? Well, it is “from rags to riches” story.

In the 1960s, Korea is a poor country with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of less than US$100, lower compared to the Philippines[1]. But this time, there exists an overturn, a huge difference. In 2010, Korea is enjoying a GDP per capita of US$20,757 while the Philippines lagged several points behind with only US$2,140 of GDP per capita. Korea is now a member of OECD and its total GDP surpassed one trillion U.S. dollars[2].

Perhaps other countries, not only the Philippines can learn something about the story of Korea. This might be one reason why many foreign students come and study in this country. The person behind this paper is one of them.
 

EVOLUTION OF THE HCAC AS A POLICY

The launching of Gwangju as a Hub City of Asian Culture is a national policy instituted by the central government of Korea. It was inaugurated in 2004 through the forefront initiative of the Presidential Committee for Culture and Executive Agency for the Hub City of Asian Culture under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The project is expected to be fully complete until 2023. This is the first state-initiated culture project and a new balanced development model to overcome problems such as urban sprawl, environment degradation, and diminishing cultural practices. This model sets forth arts and culture as the driving force vis-à-vis rapid industrial growth in the country.

The project aims to forge cultural ties and establish a forum of exchange with the various countries of Asia. It also aims to enhance the overall quality of life of the Asian community by transforming Gwangju, one of the six largest cities in Korea, into a culture of novel concepts. The Asian Culture Complex, an integral part of the project to be completed by 2014, is expected to serve as a stage upon which creative energies of Asians in the spheres of arts and culture can lead to a source of new creativity and mutual inspiration. Through such exchanges, there is hope for the preservation of Asian traditional cultures and at the same time, play an important role in the creation, distribution, and commercialization of a wide variety of cultures.

The HCAC project actually started as a presidential campaign in 2002 until its formal launching in 2004. The table below shows the chronology of events about HCAC.

 

Table 1. HCAC Chronology of Events

Year	Events
2002	Dec. 14th - The idea of making ‘Gwangju as a cultural capital’ emanated from then presidential aspirant Roo Moo-hyun during his campaign
2003	Nov. 7th - ‘Gwangju, a hub city of Asian culture’ project presented
2004	Mar. 11th - ‘Presidential Committee for the Hub City of Asian Culture’ launched
2005	Nov. 30th - ‘Preliminary Master Plan for a Hub City of Asian Culture’ formulated Dec. 2nd - Asian Cultural Complex International design contest winner selected
2006	Sept. 27th - ‘Special Act on the Hub City of Asian Culture’ legislated Dec. 27th - Ministry’s conference with Gwangju Metropolitan City (until Aug.31st, 2007)
2007	June 22nd - Presidential Committee for the Hub City of Asian Culture met (followed by Jul. 27th and Sep. 7th) July 11th - Ministry’s conference with relevant central government agencies (until Jul. 24th) Sept. 27th - ‘Special Act on the Hub City of Asian Culture’ entered into force Mar. 28 - Draft ‘Master Plan for a Hub City of Asian Culture’ formulated Aug. 17th - Public hearing held in Seoul Aug. 22nd - Public hearing held in Gwangju Sept. 17th - ‘Master Plan for a Hub City of Asian Culture’ approved by the Presidential Committee Oct. 1st - ‘Master Plan for a Hub City of Asian Culture’ approved by President Roo Moo-hyun Oct. 8th - Public announcement and briefing on the Hub City project held
2008	Jan. 30th - Gwangju Metropolitan City’s Annual Implementation Plan formulated Mar. 1st - Approval of the plan by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

 

It can be perceived in the table above that the flow of the policy decisions followed a smooth and democratic process in terms of government intervention. This is mainly because the policy had undergone in-depth public consultations initiated by officials of the government. As mentioned previously in this article, the creation of this HCAC policy is purposely to address problems on urban sprawl, environment degradation, and diminishing cultural practices among others. Let us look into the vision, objectives, and mission of HCAC in a more comprehensive manner.

 

Vision of the HCAC Project

The vision of this project is: “Asia’s cultural window to the world – joining Asian hands in culture as the world awaits us.” The goal of HCAC is to establish Gwangju as a city where the cultural resources of Asia are exchanged, created, trained, and shared. This is built upon the vast diversity and creative prowess of participating countries. In a larger visionary perspective, the project will continue to enhance the overall quality of life of Asians and to promote continent –wide development and joint prosperity.

Objectives of HCAC

1.       City of Asian Cultural Exchange

Gwangju will be a cosmopolitan forum of exchange in which the diverse cultures and communities of Asia coexist and share symbiotic relationships. Such international exchanges shall influence the lives of the Asian population.

2.       City of Asian Arts and Peace

Anchored by the values of democracy, human rights, and peace, combined with creative imaginations, the arts and culture shall serve as medium in upholding the values of peace and freedom in Gwangju.

3.       City of Culture-based Economy

Every aspect of a community’s cultural life becomes an article of commerce. This city will feature a next-generation town that fosters a high value-added economy leveraging culture as its growth engine.

Missions of HCAC

1.       Establish and operate the Asian Cultural Complex (ACC) as production center for cultural contents

The Asian Cultural Complex is a multi-functional cultural facility where diverse cultural assets of Asia are leveraged to feature exhibitions, performances, education programs, research work, and creative activities. The general public and artists will engage in exchanges and inspire one another in the creative artistic process. This process will not only radiate in Gwangju and Korea, but shall diffuse itself throughout Asia and the rest of the world.
2.       Develop a culture-based urban environment

Under the overarching goal of achieving phase-by-phase development and growth of the HCAC, the project will endeavor to create “cultural belts” with a circulatory mechanism throughout the entire city. With the ACC at the heart, the city will be divided into seven culture zones based on key functions (Figure 2). The seven culture zones are:

a. Asian Cultural Complex (ACC) Zone – the epicenter of the project.

b. Asian Cultural Exchange Zone – planned to be remodeled as a residential district for Asian artists and non-government organizations (NGOs).

c. Asian Science and Technology Zone – a center of research on the values of Asian cultures.

d. Asian Traditional Cultures Zone – this zone will bring to the present traditional cultures for entertainment, value-creation, and economic benefit.

e. Eco-Culture Conservation Zone – pursuing sustainable growth in an ecologically sound environment.

f. Edu-Culture Zone – designating a specialized education district.

g. Visual Media Zone - adding cutting-edge media technology onto the existing cultural belt.

3. Promote arts and culture/tourism industries

The project aims to nourish the artistic strengths of the city, and funnel in resources to promote the top five cultural businesses (e.g. music, crafts & design, high-tech images, and edu-tainment) to further grow them into cultural and tourist industries.
 

4. Create a city of cultural exchange

Hub City of Asian Culture is to be a forum in which different aspects of all the coexisting cultures of Asia are shared. The general public will naturally be exposed to culture and acquire a deeper sense of appreciation. A network of international dimensions will be strengthened to foster cultural bonding of the people in Asia.

Implementation Stages and Strategies for the HCAC Project

1. Initial Stage (2004-2008)

a. Legislate relevant laws and launch the Office for Hub City of Asian Culture;

b. Complete the basic layout and execution design for the Asian Cultural Complex (ACC);

c. Develop the ACC operational contents;

d. Build cultural industry infrastructure;

e. Train expert manpower;

f. Formulate the preliminary master plan and the final master plan.

2. Execution Stage (2009-2013)

a. Open the ACC (first half of 2012) and begin operation;

b. Establish the ACC Zone and Cultural exchange zone (out of the Seven Zones of Culture);

c. Build investment-friendly environment;

d. Develop the human and physical infrastructure for the cultural industry;

e. First interim evaluation on the implementation of Hub City of Asian Culture project.

3. Maturation Stage (2014-2018)

a. Promote the ACC operation in full activation and substance;

b. Expand the scope of the Seven Culture zones project;

c. Develop and mature the cultural and tourism industries and activate cultural exchanges;

d. Second interim evaluation on the implementation of Hub City of Asian Culture project.

4. Completion Stage (2019-2023)

a. Routinize the operation of the ACC;

b. Complete the development of the Seven Zones of Culture and urban remodeling;

c. Generate a profit model for the cultural industry and establish a platform for further growth;

d. Establish Hub City of Asian Culture successfully.

Perceived Advantages of the HCAC Project

1. For the general public

The people will be able to relish a higher quality of life by embracing culture in their daily lives and also unleash their artistic potential through training programs. In addition, they will be given greater opportunities for self-realization by offering themselves to a variety of jobs that will be created with the execution of the HCAC Project.

2. For the city

High quality human resources from throughout Asia are expected to converge upon the city. Bustling with cultural activities for the public and active cultural exchanges, the city will experience revitalization of the local economy with this significant growth in social capital.

3. For the state

The state will be able to derive a model of balanced national development by means of culture, and forage an identity of openness required of a culturally pluralistic society. For Korea, the country is expected to step on to new dimensions with its status enhanced within the Asian community.

4. For Asia

The project aspires to promote the great diversity of cultures in Asia and establish a model of sustainable development by capitalizing on the cultural resources of each state in the continent. Furthermore, by fostering exchanges and interaction, it is hoped that trust and peace among all countries are built to last.

5. For the world

An in-depth appreciation of Asian cultures by people all over the world will reveal the truly unique values of Asia. The project pursues solidarity and networking at the international level with a view to overcoming the limitations of modern civilization.
 

WHY EMPHASIZE CULTURE AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR THE HCAC POLICY?

Several times in this paper that the term ‘culture’ is included to emphasize the purpose of the HCAC policy. Why culture? What is the role of culture in the development of a city?

History tells us that countries like United Kingdom and United States of America have employed marketing strategies to promote the image of their country, thus attracting tourists from all over the world. The city of Glasgow in the UK and New York in USA are ideal examples. In the case of Glasgow for instance, this city was designated as European Cultural Capital in 1990[3] after undergoing image reconstruction. Such a name brought positive influence to the city’s degrading population. Its declining economy slightly rescued due to influx of tourists as the growing awareness that the city was a major center for arts and culture.

Culture is a term that has different inter-related meanings. Perhaps a meaning that is appropriate for development is that of the 19^th century: “Culture came to refer first to the betterment or refinement of the individual, and then to the fulfillment of national aspirations or ideals” [4]. This is what the government of Korea tries to emulate using incremental development strategies.

Korea has fully developed as a powerful nation. To further enhance its status, culture and arts are vital promotional tools. Of course, improving quality of life both in cities would encourage visitors (tourists and business investors) thus bringing economic growth and sustainability. This is perceived to be the driving force in promoting a balanced development within and outside the city of Seoul. Culture is clearly a strategy to promote cities while maintaining balanced economy throughout Korea.

Gwangju as a Hub City of Asian Culture is a change agent if government support is sustained. This will not only address issues about urban sprawl and environment degradation in the long run, but promote unity and peace among Asian countries in particular and to the world in general.

CONCLUSION

The Hub City of Asian Culture project in Gwangju came into existence with four missions: construction of Asian Cultural Complex, development of a culture-based urban environment, promotion of tourism, and sharing of Asian cultures. These missions will further enhance quality of life while bringing in economic benefits by means of tourism and investment opportunities.

This paper has presented the basic concepts of the HCAC project in Gwangju. It is with great belief that the project will succeed in so far as the perception of the person behind this paper is concerned. The bases are the following. First, Korea has achieved so much success through the years since its independence. This pattern will continue as long as government support is sustained for the HCAC project despite changes in political leadership. Second, there is positive participation from the private sector to pursue the project. One of the benefits that this project will bring to Korea is economic growth through tourism and influx of investments. Third, promotion of cities through culture and arts has been a success story in the United Kingdom and United States of America. Hence, the propensity of success is higher than the probability of failure.

On the other hand, it is believed that more should be done to encourage partnerships and networking within countries in Asia. The name Hub City of Asian Culture itself represents whole Asia. The benefits that this project brings to the table will not only benefit Korea and its culture but also its neighboring countries. Being Asia’s cultural show window to the world, the project, if successful, will become a model for other countries to follow especially those developing countries.

REFERENCES

Hub City of Asian Culture-Gwangju. 2011. <http://www.cct.go.kr/english/index.do>. Accessed on Dec. 11. 2011.
International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). 2011. Hub City of Asian Culture and Worldwide Correspondents’ Program of culture Cities. Available at <http://www.ifacca.org/national_agency_news/2008/01/08/hub-city-of-asian-culture-and/>. Accessed on Dec. 11, 2011.
Culture-360 Organization. 2011. Connecting Asia and Europe through Arts and Culture. Available at <http://culture360.org/magazine/korea-hub-city-of-asian-culture-project/>. Accessed on Dec. 11, 2011.
Eung-kyuk Park, Chang-seok Park, Bernard Rowan. 2011. Discover Korea in Public Administration. Seoul, Korea: The Korea Institute of Public Administration. p.16.
Ronan Paddison. 1993. City Marketing, Image Reconstruction and Urban Regeneration. Urban Studies, Vol. 30, No.2. pp.339-349.
World Bank. 2011. Gross Domestic Product of the Republic of Korea and Republic of the Philippines. Available at <http://databank.worldbank.org>. Accessed on Dec. 14, 2011.
Wikipedia. 2011. Culture. <http://en.wikipedia.org/>.

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[1] Korea’s GDP in 1961 is US$92 while the Philippines is US$270. Source: World Bank.
[2] Based on the newly released book entitled Discover Korea in Public Administration. p.16.

[3] Taken from the article: City Marketing, Image Reconstruction and Urban Regeneration by Ronan Paddison.
[4] This definition is accessible at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture