• Establishing a Reading and Humanities Hub in Suwon, the Birthplace of SK
• Promoting Mental Well-Being and a Fulfilling Life Through Lectures and Book Clubs

SK chemicals and Suwon Special City have unveiled an open cultural and humanities space designed for the community.

SK chemicals (CEO and President Ahn Jae-hyun) announced on the 24th that it held an opening ceremony for “Suwon Jigwanseoga,” a community space created in collaboration with Suwon Special City (Mayor Lee Jae-joon).

Suwon is home to the origins of the SK Group, where its predecessor, Sunkyung Textiles, was originally located.

Jigwanseoga is a humanities-focused cultural library designed to promote mental well-being and a fulfilling life for citizens. SK Group currently operates six Jigwanseoga locations in Ulsan and one each in Andong, Yeoju, and Uljin, with Suwon becoming the tenth. The name "Jigwan" means "to pause and reflect," embodying the philosophy of pausing amid daily busyness to reflect on oneself and the world to discover life's wisdom.

Suwon Jigwanseoga, which opened after renovating part of the Lifelong Learning Center in Uman-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon, features a two-story structure spanning a total area of 740 square meters—making it the largest among the 10 Jigwanseoga locations nationwide. The first floor houses bookshelves and a café area, while the second floor is designed as a reading space featuring additional shelving. The bookshelves are stocked with approximately 900 books. An outdoor garden has also been created alongside the bookshelves, establishing an independent space separate from the existing Lifelong Learning Center.  

Suwon Jigwanseoga will host citizen-participatory programs each month, including humanities lectures and reading discussions by inviting intellectuals and scholars from various fields of knowledge and academia. Through these initiatives, SK chemicals and Suwon Special City hope that Jigwanseoga will become an open humanities space where all generations can freely share ideas and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Lee Jae-joon, Mayor of Suwon Special City, stated, "I hope Jigwanseoga becomes a space for rest and learning, where citizens can drop by anytime to read books and engage with the humanities. I also look forward to it growing into a cultural landmark for all generations, strengthening the collective value of the ongoing programs of the Lifelong Learning Center."

Ahn Jae-hyun, CEO and President of SK chemicals, stated, “It is deeply meaningful to open Jigwanseoga for citizens in Suwon, a city that played a pivotal role in SK’s early days and formed the foundation for the Group’s growth. We will go beyond simply operating the space and actively seek out opportunities to contribute to and engage with the local community, including Suwon City.”

The opening ceremony was attended by approximately 100 people, including Ahn Jae-hyun, CEO of SK chemicals; Lee Jae-joon, Mayor of Suwon Special City; Choi Sun-jae, Director of the Foundation Academia Platonica; as well as local cultural and artistic figures and members of the community.

# Photo description: Ahn Jae-hyun, CEO of SK chemicals (right), and Lee Jae-joon, Mayor of Suwon Special City (left), held the opening ceremony for "Suwon Jigwanseoga" and posed for a commemorative photo.