Seoul's only legally designated cultural city builds resident-led cultural ecosystem, narrows cultural divide
Yeongdeungpo-gu in Seoul has received a commendation from the chairman of the Presidential Commission on Local Era at the "2026 Balanced Growth Outstanding Cases Awards Ceremony and Achievement Exhibition," in recognition of its exceptional work developing the district as a cultural city.
The award marks the first time a Seoul district has received such recognition in 11 years, since Guro-gu was honored in 2015 for its Guro Digital Complex streetscape improvement project. The commendation again affirms Yeongdeungpo-gu's standing as Seoul's only legally designated cultural city and its strong capacity to execute cultural initiatives.
The Presidential Commission on Local Era evaluates the outcomes of projects funded through the Special Account for Balanced Regional Development each year, selecting outstanding cases from local governments across the country.
Under the vision of a "cultural city of friendship and hospitality," Yeongdeungpo-gu has carried out resident-led cultural projects tailored to the distinct character of each neighborhood — including Yeouido, Dangsan, Yangpyeong, Singil, Daelim and Mullae. The district was highly praised for narrowing the cultural divide within the community and building a resident-centered cultural ecosystem under the theme of "a cultural city of diversity and inclusion in full bloom," contributing to balanced regional development.
The flagship initiative, the "Neighborhood Cultural Ambassador" program, invites residents to uncover the stories and issues of their own communities and channel them into cultural activities. A total of 1,140 people took part in 23 resident-led projects, drawing an enthusiastic response.
The district also established a "15-minute cultural living zone" by linking 41 cultural hub spaces across the area, allowing residents to access cultural activities within 15 minutes from their daily surroundings.
In addition, Yeongdeungpo-gu built active cooperative frameworks with other local governments — including the "Anyangcheon Culture Week" with seven cities that share the Anyangcheon, and "Culture Line 1" with cities connected along the No. 1 subway line. These partnerships generated synergies for mutual growth and balanced development spanning both the Greater Seoul area and other regions.
A Yeongdeungpo-gu official said the award was "a precious achievement made together by residents and the administration," adding that the district would "continue building Yeongdeungpo into a cultural city where residents richly enjoy and lead culture in their everyday lives, grounded in the pride of being Seoul's only legally designated cultural city."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
