GS Caltex, South Korea’s second-largest oil refiner, is lending a hand in bringing the arts closer to the local community in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, through its cultural center Yeulmaru.

In partnership with Yeosu City, the company established the arts facility in May 2012 aiming to provide local citizens with opportunities to enjoy diverse arts performances and exhibitions previously unavailable to those outside of Seoul.

Yeulmaru, which translates to “a serene space flowing with culture and art,” was built with an investment of 110 billion won ($89.1 million), and now stands as a visible cultural landmark in the industrial city and the larger province, GS Caltex said.

The cultural center is equipped with a large theater able to accommodate 1,021 people, a smaller theater able to seat 302 people, an exhibition space as well as a walking path along the coast.

In addition to hosting outside concerts and exhibitions, it also regularly organizes its own cultural programs as well as unique music events in conjunction with universities and local arts foundations for local citizens, children and multicultural families.

Since its foundation, Yeulmaru has hosted 596 concerts, 38 exhibits and attracted some 306,800 visitors as of December 2015, including some 10,000 underprivileged citizens invited as part of GS’s social contribution efforts, according to the company.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)