Gwangju Shinsegae has donated 100 million won ($72,000) to the Gwangju Biennale to support the region's arts and culture, pushing its cumulative support for the event past 2 billion won.
The department store operator said it presented the 100 million won at a ceremony for the 16th Gwangju Biennale held at the Gwangju government complex on the 19th. The event was attended by Ko Kwang-wan, vice mayor for culture and industry of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City; Yoon Beom-mo, CEO of the Gwangju Biennale; and Lee Dong-hoon, CEO of Gwangju Shinsegae.
Gwangju Shinsegae is a local subsidiary set up to promote shared growth with the region, and it has donated to every edition of the biennale since the event was launched in 1995. Including the latest gift, its cumulative support for the biennale totals 2.07 billion won.
Beyond backing the biennale, Gwangju Shinsegae runs a range of programs supporting the region's arts and culture. Since opening in 1995, it has operated the Gwangju Shinsegae Gallery on the first floor of its main building, broadening residents' access to the arts. It has sponsored the Gwangju Design Biennale since 2005 and, from 2024, expanded its support to the Gwangju Student Art Contest.
Having sustained its arts and culture support for more than 30 years since opening, Gwangju Shinsegae is regarded as a leading example of corporate patronage of the arts in the local community.
"I am proud to have watched the Gwangju Biennale, which began together with Gwangju Shinsegae in 1995, grow into a world-class biennale," said Lee Dong-hoon, CEO of Gwangju Shinsegae. "I hope the Gwangju Biennale is held successfully and further strengthens the pride of the residents of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City."
