Gwangju Innovation Promotion Committee's Keywords for This Year: 'Economy, Youth, Low Birthrate, Climate Change'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Innovation Promotion Committee under the Gwangju Metropolitan Mayor has decided to focus on innovation plans this year in the areas of economy, youth, low birthrate, and climate change.

The Innovation Promotion Committee held an innovation workshop on the 29th at the city hall's medium conference room with all members present, where they intensively discussed setting the key innovation agendas for 2020 and operational plans, announcing this decision on the 30th.

First, for the 2020 innovation discussion agenda, 13 items were set including artificial intelligence, economic free zones, youth job policies, overcoming low birthrate, responding to climate and environmental changes, creating green belts, pedestrian-friendly cities, job creation through culture and arts economy, and redefining urban design spaces. These were finalized through discussions by subcommittees and confirmed in the plenary session to be recommended to Gwangju City.

To this end, the committee plans to revitalize its operation by additionally appointing experts in each field centered on youth, expanding participation of external experts in discussions on innovation agendas by subcommittees such as economy and industry, administration and welfare, culture, arts and tourism, environment, construction and transportation, and holding forums and seminars with related organizations and groups to ensure substantial recommendations and proposals for city administration innovation.

Furthermore, the Innovation Promotion Committee will strengthen the execution of recommended and proposed innovation tasks by enhancing policy sharing with the city council and regularly and occasionally checking the progress of the implementation of recommended and proposed city administration innovations to ensure that citizens can feel the innovation in city governance.

Additionally, they plan to establish an innovation network involving citizens and civil society organizations to share information on city administration innovation recommendations, proposals, and progress, and to listen to opinions, thereby preparing active communication methods with citizens.

Joo Jeong-min, chairman of the Innovation Promotion Committee, said, “Through this workshop, we shared last year’s achievements and shortcomings of the Innovation Promotion Committee and formed a consensus among members through discussions on this year’s operational plans. We will do our best to contribute to making Gwangju a just and prosperous city that opens the future of Korea through innovation together with its citizens this year as well.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.