Jinju City is undergoing a remarkable transformation through its Public Architect System, positioning itself as a national benchmark in urban design and eco-friendly wooden architecture.
Since becoming the first city in Gyeongnam Province to adopt the system in 2019, Jinju has redefined its public spaces, blending functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability. As a result, local governments and institutions across the country are turning to Jinju for inspiration.
One shining example is the Jinju Silk Museum, a striking structure that resembles a giant silk loom. Designed to reflect the city’s 100-year history in the silk industry, the museum is both a cultural landmark and a visually captivating space that draws natural light deep inside. Nearby, a spacious cultural plaza offers a relaxing venue for public events.
Another project, Sabong Bapjib, illustrates how architecture can serve community needs. Created after COVID-19 forced the closure of a local canteen, this wooden eco-friendly restaurant now provides meals and comfort to industrial workers, and won excellence at the 2024 Korea Wooden Architecture Competition.
Jinju’s commitment to wooden architecture extends throughout the city. Community centers, senior care facilities, and children’s spaces like Woodland have all embraced wood as a core design material. Projects like Munsan Eoulmadang and Jisu Nammyeong Jinchuiga, built using the innovative NLT method, underscore Jinju’s leadership in eco-conscious design, wood now makes up 40% of the city’s public architecture.
Through strategic planning and collaboration with private experts, Jinju is not only improving urban aesthetics but also enhancing its citizens’ quality of life.
With multiple cultural and welfare projects underway, Jinju is cementing its status as Korea’s “model city for public wooden architecture.”
