A giant display made of old CDs at the ongoing international craft biennale in the central South Korean city of Cheongju has set a Guinness World Record, organizers of the event said Wednesday.

Nearly 490,000 CDs were collected from nine countries including South Korea, Japan, China and the U.S. between April and August to create a facade that covers three sides of the old tobacco processing plant in the city in North Chungcheong Province, the organizing committee of the Cheongju International Craft Biennale said.

The structure, put together by local citizens, was listed as the largest display of compact discs on Sept. 16, when the biennale opened. A total of 489,440 CDs were used.

"This project not only set a world record but testified to the power of a united Cheongju," Lee Seung-hoon, head of the organizing committee, said. "Our citizens have volunteered their efforts to take full ownership of this event."

The CD Project has been widely credited for transforming the city's dilapidated tobacco plant to a piece of art, according to organizers. (Yonhap)