Founded in 1995 as a local research study group, Space Beam Community opened in Guwol-dong in Incheon in 2002. In 2007, Space Beam Community moved to Baedari Village in Changyeong-dong with the mission to engage in various community-based projects as a local art and culture space. Notably, Space Beam Community not only organizes exhibitions and supports artists’ practices, but also continuously stages exhibitions, a wide range of seminars, discussions, and group meetings together with residents of Incheon. Currently, the space continues to hold activities that embrace Baedari Village in conjunction with the city of Incheon. Amid a situation in which the city of Incheon is undergoing rapid modernization and the consequent sweeping development is causing the vestiges of people’s lives to vanish, Space Beam Community deliberates and researches how such circumstances might be transformed into forms of visual art, and what method of practice these artistic endeavors ought to take. Examples of these practices include a variety of projects that involve participation by local residents, urban philosophy study groups, and poetry readings. In addition, the space publishes the culture criticism magazine Visual and spearheads art activities such as the “Urban Forum” with Incheon residents. 
 
With regard to operating Space Beam Community, Woongi Min discussed the different ways in which visual art practice and artistic intervention can be advanced within the relationship between the local community, residents, and artists. In recognition of the principle that the owners of a local community are its residents, Space Beam Community responds to the rash commercialization of the city led by Incheon city administrators who fail to consider the unique culture of the local community in their approaches, contemplates the coexistence of Baedari Village with the local community, and strives to examine how to see the city from an artistic viewpoint.  
 
Community Art, Public Art, and the Community
 
One can define community or public art as art that has a relationship with the local community. Particularly in Korea, public art is still often viewed as a decorative undertaking that uses art in buildings in undeveloped urban areas and in underdeveloped regions, or as an enlightening visual art meant to induce participation by residents. Mullae-dong in Seoul is perhaps the most representative example of community art that is realized in conjunction with the local community; as well, the Art Council Korea has initiated the “Village Art Project” as a public art project in certain regional areas in Korea. The participants further examined case studies from Woongi Min’s activities with Space Beam Community and discussed the state of affairs and significance of public art projects currently underway in Korea, especially in Incheon.