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Western Busan’s Landmark Cultural Complex Facility, ‘Nakdong Art Center,’ Prepares for Grand Opening

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Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Park Heong-joon announced the completion of the Nakdong Art Center, a music-exclusive performance venue constructed at Myeongji District Neighborhood Park No. 1 in Gangseo-gu.

The Nakdong Art Center is the first classical performance hall in western Busan. It was built with an investment of 63 billion won by the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (hereinafter “LH”) under the “Myeongji District Cultural Complex Facility Construction Cooperation Agreement” and later donated to Busan Metropolitan City.

In March 2016, Busan Metropolitan City, Gangseo-gu, and LH signed an agreement in which LH pledged to build the Myeongji Cultural Complex Facility, taking advantage of relaxed building height regulations in the district, and donate it to the city. In turn, Busan Metropolitan City and Gangseo-gu agreed to provide administrative support.

Construction of the Myeongji Cultural Complex Facility commenced in November 2021. Following a naming contest in February 2024, it was officially designated the “Nakdong Art Center.” The building received approval for use on June 13, 2025. Meanwhile, beginning in December 2024, Busan Metropolitan City conducted joint inspections with relevant agencies, requiring the contractor to address defects and facility improvements to ensure safety. The city formally acquired ownership of the building from LH on August 26, 2025.

The Nakdong Art Center is a three-story-above-ground, one-story-underground venue that includes a 987-seat classical concert hall and a 300-seat multipurpose ensemble theater.

The concert hall, the first classical performance venue in western Busan, was designed in a “shoebox” style with two levels of seating, providing excellent resonance and spatial acoustics for live performances.

In May 2024, Busan Metropolitan City enacted the Busan Metropolitan City Culture and Arts Center Management and Operation Ordinance, delegating the facility’s management and operations to Gangseo-gu. The city will continue supporting the opening and operation of the center to ensure its establishment as a representative cultural facility in western Busan.

To prepare for the official opening of the Nakdong Art Center, scheduled for next May, Busan Metropolitan City allocated 1.32 billion won in supplementary budget funding this year to support operational costs and initial facility construction expenses for Gangseo-gu. The city also plans to stage performances from the “Classic Busan” program, which debuted earlier this year, at the Nakdong Art Center.

In July, Gangseo-gu established a dedicated Nakdong Art Center office through organizational restructuring and has been reinforcing its team with professional performance staff to expedite opening preparations.

Cho Yoo-jang, Director of the Culture Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “The Nakdong Art Center will serve as a hub where residents of western Busan can enjoy cultural experiences in their daily lives, enhancing accessibility to the arts. Furthermore, its opening is expected to alleviate concerns in the local performing arts community regarding venue shortages caused by the renovation of the Busan Cultural Center Grand Theater.”