On September 4th, “KT&G SangSangMaDang (SSMD)” opened in Seomyun, Busan which is the result of Busan and KT&G’s cooperative project.

SSMD is a place prepared by KT&G to support the culture and arts ecosystem and to expand opportunities for citizens to experience mass culture. The four pre-existing SSMD have 1.8 million visitors per year, run 3,000 cultural and artistic programs every year and collaborate with 1,700 artists annually. The newly opened SSMD Busan is the largest among them, with 80 billion won invested in building purchases and content development and is expected to have an economic effect of 19 billion won annually.

SSMD Busan not only has performances, exhibitions, a design store but also has a live hall, academy, gallery, cinema, photo studio, accommodation, lounge, and shared office facilities, allowing visitors to have various culture arts experience in one place. Visitors can meet rising artists’ brand items in the design store and purchase products from more than 20 shoe making companies in Busan at the shoe editing shop, which is located at the product sales space and the custom shoe experiencing space. Moreover, in the academy, a variety of cultural lectures are offered, including one-day classes, creation spaces for personal media activists and spaces to support youth start-ups. However, only online education programs are operated currently to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The related information can be found on SSMD Busan’s website. The online education programs include a personal media editor training program, a nurturing program for Busan star creator, a V commerce branded video production supporting program connected with local businesses, etc.

Lee Chae-Won (Promotion Division, SSMD Busan) said, “It is expected for SSMD Busan to function as a hub for Busan citizens to have rich cultural and artistic experiences through various facilities. In addition, start-up spaces used by local start-ups in Busan will have positive economic effects in supporting young people in Busan.

By Lee Chae-Young, Desk Editor

chaeyoung0702@pusan.ac.kr