Abstract

This paper focuses on the process by which variegated cultures affect urban economic development in the case of Gwangju, South Korea. Based on in-depth interviews with key actors and secondary data for quantitative assessments of economic performance, the findings of this research demonstrate the following points. First, the evolution of a high-profile art event, the Gwangju Biennale, turned the city’s tragedy into a major asset for Gwangju’s tourism. Second, the dramatic increase in cultural and creative industries contributed to the promotion of the culture-economy nexus. Third, culture progressed towards cultural participation and flexibility in culture-led urban regeneration in the 2000s.