Gangneung, located on Korea's east coast, is nestled between steep mountains and the blue sea. It was the hub of history and culture as a city of tradition, representing the east coast region of the Korean Peninsula. Since the 16th century, Gangneung has produced brilliant scholars, authors, and artists and has given rise to numerous cultural heritages. Old buildings and ruins, as well as the Danoje Festival in Gangneung, which is recognized as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, are excellent examples of the city's history and culture.

The most notable historical figures from Gangneung include Yulgok Yi Yi and Shin Saimdang, the first mother and son whose portraits appeared on Korean banknotes; Heo Gyun, a thinker and writer from the mid-Joseon Dynasty; and Heo Nanseolheon, a distinguished female poet. Gangneung, where these figures were born, is a city of art and a hub of cultural education in the Yeongdong region.

Shin Saimdang (1504–1511), a great female calligrapher from the mid-Joseon Dynasty, was the mother of Yulgok Yi Yi, a renowned scholar of the Joseon Dynasty, and an artist skilled in poetry, painting, and calligraphy. Chochungdo (the Painting of Grass and Insects), her most famous piece, is a delicate and beautiful realistic painting that is still adored by many.

Gangneung was the host city for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic ice skating competitions and served as the secretariat city of the Inter-City Intangible Cultural Cooperation Network (ICCN) for 10 years. Also, it is a city with easy access to transportation, with Yangyang International Airport, high-speed railways, two highways to Seoul, and ports to Russia and Japan.

As the host city for the Olympics, it boasts a convention center for international events and hotels with plenty of accommodation capacity. It is also fully equipped with educational and cultural facilities, including five universities, museums, art galleries, cultural arts centers, and traditional culture experience centers.

It is challenging to promote manufacturing-focused urban growth in Gangneung because of the city's significant share of national parks, including mountain ranges and oceans. The young population and economic vibrancy are dropping in the city as a result of the country's metropolitan area-centered development program.