Jecheon City Mayor Kim Chang-gyu announced on Monday that the construction of a new city-run art museum is set to begin soon. Mayor Kim stated during a press briefing at Jecheon City Hall that the new museum will be modeled after the Chungju Art Museum.

The project is estimated to cost a total of 300 billion won, with the city contributing 90 billion won and the provincial government providing the remaining 210 billion won.

Regarding the location of the new museum, Mayor Kim said, "We are initially considering a natural park area (Cheongjeon-dong) adjacent to the city center. We are also considering the airport area to revitalize the nearby Uiryeji Lake." He added, "We plan to consult with the citizens to make a final decision on the location."

The mayor also emphasized that the construction of the art museum is scheduled to be completed between 2027 and June 2029, following the resumption of the feasibility study and basic planning this year.

Chungcheongbuk-do Governor Kim Young-hwan had previously expressed his full support for the construction of the Jecheon City Art Museum on December 26 of last year.

In addition to the art museum project, Mayor Kim addressed local issues. He dismissed concerns about the low occupancy rate of the Jecheon Central Market, stating that the market's occupancy rate has been improving recently. Mayor Kim attributed this improvement to factors such as the introduction of park golf and the expansion of parking facilities. This statement can be interpreted as an indirect attempt to alleviate public concerns amid a sluggish economy.

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