Changwon City has outlined its 2026 policy direction for culture and education, focusing on expanding everyday cultural infrastructure and building a long term talent pipeline suited to the AI era.

On the cultural side, the city plans to strengthen neighborhood based cultural spaces that residents can easily access. The Jinhae Art Hall and Library are scheduled to open in September, while the aging Naeseo Library will be rebuilt into a modern complex combining education, culture, and community use.

Plans are also moving forward for the Changwon Municipal Art Museum, alongside efforts to attract a branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, expanding access to major exhibitions and preserving local cultural assets.

Waterfront and leisure spaces will also see major changes. Masan Marine New Town is set to partially open in the first half of the year, offering walking and cycling paths connected to nearby parks.

In Jinhae, large scale marine leisure tourism projects will begin construction, with new observation decks and coastal amenities planned. Coastal walking routes linking Masan and Jinhae will be developed in stages to improve public access to the shoreline.

Sports are positioned as a key part of daily life. Changwon will deepen cooperation with its professional baseball, basketball, and football teams while expanding everyday facilities such as park golf courses, public tennis courts, and community sports centers. Several long awaited sports complexes are scheduled for completion or steady progress in 2026.

In education, the city is prioritizing industry linked talent development. Programs tied to hydrogen mobility, smart ports, and manufacturing AI will be expanded through partnerships between government, universities, research institutes, and companies. Changwon aims to train 1,200 advanced AI and software professionals by 2031 through innovation academies and related initiatives.

Finally, Changwon is investing in lifelong learning. A new lifelong learning center opening in July will offer age specific programs, while expanded support will target seniors, low income residents, people with disabilities, and multicultural families.

The city’s overall goal is to ensure culture, learning, and opportunity are part of everyday life for all residents.

Fleet Chinhae

USAG Daegu