POSCO’s cultural complex Park1538, first introduced in Pohang in 2021, has now officially opened in Gwangyang — this time under the name “Park1538 Gwangyang.” The facility officially opened on April 3 and began welcoming the general public on April 14. Park1538 Gwangyang consists of a promotion hall, art museum, and education center. Today, we explore the key highlights of the Art Museum and Education Center at Park1538 Gwangyang.
The POSCO Art Museum Gwangyang is located on the first and second floors of Park1538 Gwangyang. It is a space planned to bring a wave of culture and art to the city of light, Gwangyang. POSCO aims to expand the region’s cultural infrastructure through high-level art exhibitions in the future.
The museum’s inaugural exhibition is titled “Journey of the LIGHT.” To mark the 33rd anniversary of the full completion of Gwangyang Works, 33 selected pieces from the POSCO Group art collection are on display.
The exhibition is divided into two parts: Part 1, themed “The Light Within,” showcases representative works of Korean abstract painting. Part 2, themed “The Light of Nature,” features bright, warm landscapes filled with natural beauty.
The final stop is the education center. The education center is themed around POSCO’s innovation journey, titled “Innovation Wave.” Approximately 1,430 tons of POSCO steel, including PosMAC, were used in the construction materials. The building’s design was inspired by the bamboo groves of Gwangyang’s Maehwa Village, creating a warm and open space for creativity and communication.
Inside, the center is divided into two main areas: the Leadership Education Center, focused on theoretical learning, and the Technical Training Center, centered on practical skills. Spanning from the basement level to the third floor, the facility houses 26 classrooms and can accommodate up to 1,155 trainees. Additional facilities include a staff cafeteria with 150 seats and a Paul Bassett café.
One of the most eye-catching features of Park1538 Gwangyang is the bold architecture of its promotional hall and education center. Beyond the buildings lies another highlight—the landscaping. Designed to harmonize with the architecture, the surrounding landscape was planned to offer a variety of colors throughout the seasons.
Let’s take a look at the large tree in front of the education center. This is a silver osmanthus, which serves as a symbolic centerpiece of Park1538. A tree species commonly found in Korea’s southern regions, the silver osmanthus blooms with silvery flowers in autumn and spreads its fragrance far and wide. This particular tree was transplanted from the grounds of an old school in Jeollanam-do. Estimated to be over 50 years old, it shares a parallel history with POSCO’s long-standing growth. Once a guardian of a place of learning, the silver osmanthus will now continue to grow at the heart of POSCO’s new foundation for nurturing talent.
Another key feature is the Steel Planter Box. Created in collaboration with the Gwangyang Works Maintenance Technology Department, it looks like a massive stone but is actually a repurposed steel block. It was dropped from a 25-meter height over several years in the steel yard to crush industrial sludge, gradually forming its current shape. Its rugged yet resilient form reflects POSCO’s own spirit—one of challenge, persistence, and transformation through adversity.