Bucheon City of Literature

A Creative City Shaped by Its People and Culture

“Power of Reading and Writing to Change the Lives of People”

Bucheon is a city that grew on the strength of manufacturing during Korea’s rapid industrialization. People from across the country settled here, learning from one another and building solidarity through labor and human rights movements as well as community night schools.

These experiences fostered the values of learning, inclusion, and civic participation, which have become defining characteristics of the city. Rather than relying on a long history or abundant natural resources, Bucheon has built its identity by valuing the determination, creativity, and collective spirit of its people.

Since the late 1990s, Bucheon has embraced culture as a key strategy for sustainable urban development in response to changes in its industrial structure. The city has consistently invested in cultural industries—including music, film, comics, and animation—while implementing a library policy that ensures every resident can reach a library within a 10-minute walk. Through these efforts, culture and reading have become an integral part of everyday life. This long-term commitment has established Bucheon as a leading hub for contemporary cultural content, renowned for genre films, comics and animation, as well as hip-hop and B-boy culture.

Building on these achievements, Bucheon joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Literature in 2017. Today, the city continues to collaborate with creative cities around the world, drawing on the creativity inspired by its people, books, and culture. Through these partnerships, Bucheon is committed to shaping a sustainable future and strengthening its role as an internationally recognized creative city.