Suwon City and SK to Revitalize Former Seonkyung Textile Factory Site

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] An exhibition and cultural space showcasing Suwon's modern and contemporary industrial development history will be created at the site of the former Seonkyung Textile Factory (Pyeongdong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon).

Suwon City, SK Networks, and SK E&C; signed a "Former Seonkyung Textile Reconstruction Project Revitalization Agreement" on July 2 in the office of Mayor Yeum Tae-young and agreed to actively cooperate in creating the exhibition and cultural space. The signing ceremony was attended by Mayor Yeum Tae-young, SK Networks Chairman Choi Shin-won, and Suwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Hong Ji-ho.

In Cultural Parks No. 14 and 15 in Pyeongdong, Gwonseon-gu, the management building and main building that were previously used as Seonkyung Textile's offices have been reconstructed. Suwon City, which was contemplating how to utilize the buildings, received a written proposal from SK stating 'We wish to transform Seonkyung Textile's old buildings into cultural spaces for citizens.' After review, the city decided to sign the agreement.

Suwon City and SK will construct a new management building in Cultural Park No. 14, which houses the main building, and will display old textile machinery from Seonkyung Textile and promotional materials in both the main building and management building to create a space where visitors can learn about Suwon's modern and contemporary industrial development history. The 'Suwon Modern and Contemporary Industrial History Exhibition Hall (tentative name)' is scheduled to open to the public by the end of this year.

'Seonkyung Textile' is the foundation and root of the SK Group. The late Park Chung Hee Choi Jong-geon (1926–1973), founder and former chairman of the SK Group, established Seonkyung Textile (now SK Networks) in 1953 in Pyeongdong, Suwon, which had been reduced to ruins by the Korean War.

SK Group experienced rapid growth when the late Chairman Choi Jong-hyun (1929–1998), the second generation leader and brother of Choi Jong-geon, assumed the position of Vice President of Seonkyung Textile in 1962. SK Group also built Seonkyung Library in 1995 and donated it to Suwon City.

The late Chairman Choi Jong-geon and his brother, the late Chairman Choi Jong-hyun, both prominent entrepreneurs representing Suwon, were inducted into the 'Suwon City Hall of Fame' in August 2018.

Suwon City enacted the 'Suwon City Hall of Fame Installation and Operation Ordinance' in 2017 to discover and commemorate individuals and organizations that have brought honor to Suwon. The city recruited candidates for induction, and after three rounds of deliberation, selected eight final inductees.

Mayor Yeum Tae-young said, "SK is a company that has grown together with Suwon," and added, "We have not forgotten the entrepreneurial spirit of the late Chairman Choi Jong-geon and the late Chairman Choi Jong-hyun, and their contributions to Suwon." He further expressed hope that "this will become a historical and cultural space with traces of history, encompassing the spirit of King Jeongjo and SK."

SK Networks Chairman Choi Shin-won said, "Suwon is the hometown where my father (Chairman Choi Jong-geon) and I spent our childhood," and added, "It is only natural that SK, which has special affection for Suwon, provides support for Suwon citizens."