Gangneung is preparing for the opening of the 'Moonlight Art Show,' a key project in its tourism hub development initiative, marking a new era in night tourism. This project combines the country's largest LED moon sculpture with AI-based experiential content, aiming to extend daytime tourism activities into the evening and enhance Gangneung's competitiveness as a tourist destination.
On July 29, Gangneung City announced it will hold a final report meeting for the 'Moonlight Art Show Content Production and System Construction Project' at 5 p.m. in the city hall's situation room.
The meeting will include Gangneung Mayor Kim Jung-nam, city officials, and key representatives from DotMill, the project execution agency, to comprehensively review the facility's construction status and operational plans. They will focus on visitor flow, safety management measures, convenience facilities, and maintenance systems, ensuring all necessary aspects for the operation post-opening are thoroughly examined.
This project is one of the core initiatives in Gangneung's tourism hub development, with a total budget of 5.1 billion won. The site is located in the ecological retention area of Jukheon-dong, aiming to create night tourism content linked to existing cultural heritage sites like Ojukheon and Seongyojang.
Despite having rich tourist resources such as Ojukheon, Gyeongpo, Seongyojang, and Anmok Beach, Gangneung has seen visitor activities primarily concentrated during the day. In response, the city has developed strategies to expand nighttime attractions, increasing visitor stay duration and stimulating the local economy.
The centerpiece of the Moonlight Art Show will be a massive 10-meter diameter LED moon sculpture installed on Hajungdo in the ecological retention area. This facility, the largest of its kind in the country, is expected to create a stunning visual of a giant moon rising against the night sky, enhanced by vibrant media art and lighting, establishing itself as a new nighttime landmark in Gangneung.
The immersive media art show will feature a blend of light, video, and music, creating a new type of nighttime cultural space that combines nature with advanced digital technology, offering unique experiences for both citizens and tourists.
Notably, the project will introduce interactive programs utilizing AI technology for differentiation. The main content, 'Finding My Moon,' is an experiential program where participants can engage directly. For visitors under 16, AI will generate images of their future selves, while those 16 and older will receive images of their childhood. These generated images can be saved on personal smartphones, providing visitors with special memories.
The experience does not end there. After completing moon-related stamp missions set up around Gyeongpodae, visitors can exchange coupons to display their generated images on the large LED moon screen on Hajungdo. This unique experience of seeing one's face on the giant moon is expected to resonate well with families and younger generations, offering a type of participatory content rarely seen in traditional media art.
The city anticipates that these interactive programs will not only enhance visitor satisfaction but also generate organic promotional effects through social media. The distinctive content is likely to encourage photo and video sharing online, serving as a new marketing tool to promote Gangneung's nighttime tourism.
The Moonlight Art Show will be unveiled to the public on September 1, coinciding with Gangneung Citizen's Day. The city plans to operate the event entirely free of charge, without prior reservations, to ensure accessibility and encourage a large number of visitors, quickly establishing it as a premier nighttime tourism destination in Gangneung.
The city expects that successful operation of the Moonlight Art Show will lead to increased accommodation demand from tourists, positively impacting local businesses such as restaurants, cafes, traditional markets, and small shops. Particularly, if stay-oriented tourism routes linking Gyeongpo, Ojukheon, and Seongyojang are activated, the overall local economy is expected to benefit significantly.
During the final report meeting, the safety and maintenance systems of the facilities will also be a key focus. Given the importance of stable operation and ongoing management of the large LED installations and media equipment, detailed checks on staffing, facility inspection systems, and visitor safety measures will be conducted.
Gangneung City is also considering expanding the Moonlight Art Show into seasonal events linked to cultural tourism content. By adding nighttime programs in conjunction with spring and autumn festivals and Gyeongpo area events, the influx of tourists is expected to increase further.
Mayor Kim Jung-nam stated, “In this final report meeting, we focused on reviewing essential operational aspects such as visitor flow, safety management, and convenience for attendees. We will ensure that the ecological retention area, transitioning from traditional boat rides during the day to the Moonlight Art Show at night, becomes a new landmark for Gangneung and revitalizes the local economy.”
Additionally, Gangneung City announced plans to develop the Moonlight Art Show into a year-round representative nighttime tourism resource following its opening on September 1, enhancing the competitiveness of the stay-oriented tourist city and driving local economic revitalization.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.