Yeongju opens new Hyucheon 1-dong administrative center

Yeongju City's Hyucheon 1-dong held an opening ceremony Monday for its new administrative center, marking a fresh start in resident-centered public services and community revitalization in North Gyeongsang Province.

About 100 people attended the event, including Yeongju Mayor Hwang Byeong-jik, Yeongju City Council Speaker Lee Sang-geun, provincial and city lawmakers, heads of local institutions and organizations, and area residents.

The Hyucheon 1-dong Seonbi Pungmul troupe added to the occasion by performing a ritual ceremony to pray for the neighborhood's development and residents' well-being, followed by a lively pungmul — traditional percussion — performance.

Construction on the Hyucheon 1-dong Community Welfare Center began with the demolition of the old building in October 2024 and took about two years to complete. The new facility has three above-ground floors and a total floor area of 976 square meters.

Equipped with a civil affairs office and spaces for resident self-governance activities, the center is expected to serve as a hub where residents can conveniently access administrative services and foster communication and exchange within the community.

"I hope the Hyucheon 1-dong Community Welfare Center becomes more than a place to handle civil affairs — a heart of the local community where residents and the administration communicate and neighbors share warmth," Mayor Hwang said.