Pohang opens new Jungangdong community center on site of 2017 earthquake-damaged apartments

Pohang held an opening ceremony for the new Jungangdong Administrative Welfare Center on Friday, alongside a community dialogue session called the "9th Popular Election Jungangdong Empathy Communication Forum."

About 100 people attended, including Pohang Mayor Park Yong-seon, provincial and city lawmakers, local residents and civil servants.

The relocation and construction project was undertaken after the original building, erected in 1996, surpassed 30 years of use and developed serious deterioration, including wall cracks and water leaks.

The city broke ground last June and completed the new building this June after about a year of construction. The new center spans a total floor area of 988 square meters across three above-ground floors.

The site had previously been occupied by a residential apartment complex damaged in the 2017 Pohang earthquake.

The city expects the new facility, linked to a waterfront space created as part of the Haksan Stream ecological restoration project, to draw more foot traffic and revitalize commerce in the old downtown area.

"Jungangdong is the heart of the original downtown that has grown alongside Pohang's history," Mayor Park said. "I will carefully review the opinions residents have shared and take responsibility for turning them into tangible change and new vitality that citizens can feel."