‘2nd Gwangju-si Regional Innovation Council’ Officially Begins Activities

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The ‘2nd Gwangju Metropolitan City Regional Innovation Council,’ which will review and advise on regional innovation projects for balanced regional development promoted by Gwangju Metropolitan City, held its first meeting on the 8th and began full-scale activities.

According to Gwangju City on the 9th, the city’s Regional Innovation Council was established in October 2018 under the Special Act on National Balanced Development.

The 1st term played a coordinating role by reviewing and advising on the Gwangju City Balanced Development Plan (2018?2022), Regulatory Free Zone Plan, National Innovation Convergence Complex Designation and Promotion Plan, Balanced Development Implementation Plan, Regional Innovation Growth Plan, Living SOC Complex Project Investment Agreement, and the finalized Regional Innovation Growth Plan.

The 2nd term council consists of 20 members, including 19 members recommended by the National Balanced Development Committee, the City Council, autonomous districts, regional universities, and public institutions, as well as the Director of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Autonomous Administration Bureau who participates ex officio.

They will serve a two-year term until October next year, focusing on discussions such as the Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration, super-regional cooperation projects, and regional balanced New Deal projects, and are expected to serve as a control tower for regional innovation and region-led balanced development.

At the meeting, appointment letters were delivered to the 2nd term members, and Professor Jang Seok-ju of Honam University was elected as the chairman of the council. Following this, the operation performance of the 1st term Regional Innovation Council and the operation plan for the 2nd term, as well as the Balanced Development Implementation Plan (on an annual basis), were reviewed.

To prepare for the concentration in the metropolitan area and the crisis of local extinction, the necessity of administrative integration and mega-city strategies by region was emphasized, along with a call for proactive responses from Gwangju City regarding the government and ruling party’s ‘Mega-city 3+2+3 Metropolitan Areas’ plan.

Chairman Jang Seok-ju stated, “For balanced development, super-regional projects according to the Gwangju-type New Deal strategy and cooperation and linkage projects with other regions are important. In particular, we plan to promote the Gwangju-Jeonnam integration project and hold a Gwangju-Jeonnam symposium in the future.”

Member Ryu Han-ho said, “In line with the Korean New Deal, the Regional Innovation Council will proactively propose alternatives related to Gwangju’s development.”

Member Park Mi-jung said, “A plan that can highlight Gwangju’s cultural identity as a city of music, loyalty, and beauty is needed,” adding, “It would be good if the plan reflects a human-centered New Deal related to our region.”

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