Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young, who has been touring the country to spread culture, sports and tourism resources beyond Seoul and the surrounding capital region, met with North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo to discuss development plans for the province.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Choi met Lee at the provincial government building in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on the 12th to hear key policy issues and discuss areas for cooperation.
At the meeting, Choi stressed the importance of using culture, sports and tourism to improve local living conditions and revitalize regional tourism, the ministry said on the 13th. "To open an era of 30 million visitors to Korea, we need to disperse tourism demand concentrated in the capital region to the regions," Choi said. "To do that, it is important to actively develop tourism content that lets visitors experience what is unique about Gyeongbuk, drawing on major national events such as the APEC summit in Gyeongju and the province's own distinctive tourism resources."
Choi also introduced ministry programs including the "Our Neighborhood Project," which expands opportunities for people outside the capital to enjoy cultural activities. "For policies to work properly on the ground and produce results that the public can feel, close communication and cooperation between the central and local governments are essential," he said.
Lee outlined development plans built on the province's cultural heritage and tourism resources. He called for making the World Gyeongju Forum a regular event, establishing an APEC international culture center in Gyeongju under a tentative name, and renovating the Bomun tourism complex. "Culture, sports and tourism play an important role in regional development, and that requires large-scale state investment," Lee said.
"The regions are no longer objects of central government support or largesse," Choi said. "Going forward, they should help draw the big picture for local culture and tourism development together with the central government." He added that the ministry plans to follow up carefully through working-level talks so that the items discussed are translated into concrete policies on the ground.
