Kim Byung-nae, Nam-gu Mayor, "The Signal for Baegun Plaza Revival Has Risen"

2nd Anniversary of Inauguration... "Cultural Industry Can Also Gain Competitiveness"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] “A new signal of revival has risen around Baegun Square, the gateway and symbol of Gwangju’s southern region, for greater leap and development of Nam-gu. The urban rebuilding to shift the central axis of Nam-gu’s development to the old downtown has officially begun.”

Kim Byeong-nae, Mayor of Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, stated this on the 30th ahead of the 2nd anniversary of his 7th term inauguration, emphasizing that it was a crucial period securing growth momentum for Nam-gu by resolving imbalances between villages through the largest living SOC complex project in Honam and designating the national and local industrial complexes in Daechon-dong as the first economic free zone in the Gwangju area.

Mayor Kim evaluated the second year of the 7th term as a process in which the Nam-gu public officials and 220,000 residents united as one despite difficult conditions, steadily laying the foundation for Nam-gu’s development and creating conditions for all local residents to enjoy a happy life.

He pointed to the full-scale start of the New Deal project around Baegun Square, which promises a dramatic transformation within 2 to 3 years by 2023, as the greatest achievement in district administration.

Due to the demolition of Baegun Overpass and the construction of Subway Line 2, the 87.9 billion KRW New Deal project around Baegun Square, the largest single project since the district office’s opening, has entered its main track and accelerated since last year in preparation for the tectonic changes in the area.

Mayor Kim said, “First, around March to April next year, we plan to introduce a media facade project that uses the outer wall of Nam-gu Office to display images with nighttime scenery and LED lighting, and in October of the same year, we will complete the Blue Road Bridge, approximately 220m long and 4m wide, connecting the disconnected Blue Road Park.”

He also explained plans to complete the Street Food Zone project by the end of next year, which will revitalize the local economy with 30 to 50 shops using art containers, a second local food direct sales store, a public parking lot, and a crafts street within a 500m section around Blue Road Park.

He introduced the living SOC complex project, promoted as a government priority project for residents’ quality of life, as another important achievement.

Currently, within the district, five complex projects (12 unit projects) are underway until 2022, including the Hyocheon Cultural Complex Community Center, Family Love Sharing Center, remodeling of the Cultural Information Library, and new construction/remodeling of administrative welfare centers in Wolsan 4-dong and Bongseon 2-dong, the largest number among local governments in the Honam region.

Additionally, Mayor Kim emphasized as one of the achievements securing growth momentum the simultaneous designation of two sites?the national and local industrial complexes in Daechon-dong?as Gwangju’s first economic free zones through cooperation between the central government and Gwangju City, as well as the establishment of the immersive content cube in Songam Industrial Complex.

He stated, “The designation of the economic free zone has laid an important foundation for fostering new energy industries, and the outdated Songam Industrial Complex is expected to transform into a cultural industrial complex based on the 4th industrial revolution, enabling Nam-gu to gain competitiveness not only in new energy industries but also in cultural industries.”

He analyzed that remarkable achievements were also made in resolving long-standing community issues, significantly expanding insufficient living sports facilities, and safety management to prepare for natural disasters.

First, to alleviate severe traffic congestion, the long-awaited tunnel construction (44.3 billion KRW) between Daehwa Apartments in Bongseon-dong and the old Haitai Mart in Jinwol-dong and the improvement project (11 billion KRW) of the Jinwol IC entrance and exit on the 2nd Ring Road have begun, and the construction of the Bandabi Sports Center, a long-standing wish of the disabled, is also progressing.

Furthermore, to promote residents’ health and leisure activities, a 22,000㎡ Jinwol Complex Sports Ground is being developed between the Nam-gu Multipurpose Gymnasium in Jinwol-dong and the International Tennis Court, along with the creation of Songam Living Sports Park nearby.

Also, a sewer maintenance project worth 10.4 billion KRW was completed around Baegun Square, which suffered flooding damage from the heavy rain in 2018, and last year, 1 billion KRW was secured for the drainage improvement project in Chilseok-dong, with a recent 6.5 billion KRW secured for drainage maintenance in the frequently flooded Guso-dong area.

In addition, various projects are underway, including the creation of Daegolje Dullegil and Bunjeoksan The Pureun Nuri-gil, both boasting beautiful scenery with an investment of 1 billion KRW each, the construction of a rental office in Daechon-dong to reduce the burden of agricultural machinery purchases, and remodeling of the old Daechon-dong Community Center to establish a village cooperation space platform.

Mayor Kim Byeong-nae said, “Over the past two years, we have sought solutions on-site to explore the development of Nam-gu and the future of the region, and the results of our efforts are leading to achievements,” adding, “We will make Nam-gu a happy district where all our residents can fully enjoy a prosperous life.”

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