Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop: "In 2021, We Will Create a Gwangju Time That No One Can Follow"

Revealed at Gwangju Gyeongchong Friday Breakfast Forum Special Lecture

On the morning of the 19th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, attended the Gwangju Employers' Association Friday Breakfast Forum held at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Promotion in Buk-gu, where he gave a lecture on the topic of "2021 Gwangju City Administration Operation Direction." Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, gave a special lecture titled ‘2021 Gwangju City Administration Operation Direction’ at the Gwangju Employers Federation Friday Breakfast Forum held at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology on the 19th.

The mayor first said, “Over the past year, we have devoted all our efforts to protecting the Gwangju community with the united strength of Gwangju citizens in the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic,” expressing gratitude to the citizens who actively participated in quarantine despite enormous damage and inconvenience.

He then shared policies achieved through innovation and communication, such as the construction of the Gwangju-type automotive factory, the creation of ‘Gwangju as an AI-centered city,’ the groundbreaking of Urban Railway Line 2 after 17 years, and designation as an Economic Free Zone Authority.

He also cited as valuable achievements the creation of the largest startup complex in the Honam region around Gwangju Station with an investment of 1.2 trillion won by 2025, and the attraction of 124 national projects that will change Gwangju’s future.

Next, Mayor Lee expressed a strong will for the three major Gwangju-type New Deals: AI-centered Digital New Deal, Carbon-neutral AI-Green New Deal, and Win-win Human New Deal.

In particular, he emphasized, “To open the AI era in Gwangju, we will build a world-class National AI Data Center, nurture AI talent, attract leading domestic and international AI companies, and open an AI startup camp, turning these achievements into a space where young people can dream of the future.”

He also announced the full-scale promotion of the Gwangju-type AI Green New Deal aiming for a ‘2045 Carbon-neutral Energy Self-sufficient City,’ and the creation of new jobs for local youth through the Gwangju-type completed car factory, which will begin full-scale production of finished vehicles from September.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, “We will take the lead in pioneering new paths ahead of change and make 2021 a time for Gwangju that no one can follow,” adding, “I thank local businesspeople who are firmly maintaining the local economy while preserving employment amid the severe COVID-19 situation, and I ask for their continued active participation and cooperation.”

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