Gwangsan-gu Economic Vaccine Meeting in Gwangju Introduced at Regional Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Kim Sam-ho, Mayor of Gwangsan District, is introducing the Gwangsan Economic Vaccine Meeting and the active role of the multicultural network, which are gaining attention amid the COVID-19 crisis, at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for special quarantine measures by region held on the morning of the 30th. Photo by Gwangju Gwangsan District Office

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] The economic and multicultural governance activities of Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City were introduced as a case of overcoming the COVID-19 crisis to the central government and local governments of Jeonnam and Jeonbuk through the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting.

According to Gwangsan-gu on the 30th, a regional special quarantine measures CDSCH meeting presided over by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun was held that morning.

The CDSCH meeting was attended by the heads of five autonomous districts in Gwangju including Gwangsan-gu, basic local government heads from Jeonnam and Jeonbuk, and CDSCH officials from central government ministries.

At the video conference, District Mayor Kim Sam-ho presented the exemplary cases of Gwangsan-gu, highlighting the activities of the Gwangsan Economic Vaccine Council and the multicultural network.

The Gwangsan Economic Vaccine Council is a regional economic governance body formed in April last year by 44 organizations and groups from the public, private, and academic sectors. It prescribed 13 economic vaccines across four major areas including economic vaccine funding, 1% hope loans, and the establishment of a post office brand store.

From the first funding, about 500 million won was raised with enthusiastic support from citizens and companies. This fund was lent at 1% interest without collateral or guarantees to small business owners, including low-credit borrowers who had no access to funds.

This case was introduced to the National Assembly through National Assemblyman Lee Kwang-jae during a government question session in February and has since attracted attention from local governments nationwide. Currently, the fourth round of loans is underway with a maximum limit of 10 million won.

Along with the activities of the Economic Vaccine Council, the multicultural network is also shining in the COVID-19 era.

Gwangsan-gu, which has many foreign residents such as migrant women, workers, and international students, has been operating the ‘Foreigners’ Honorary Account Book Interpreter Call Service’ which won the Prime Minister’s Award in 2018.

Based on this, when COVID-19 occurred, response manuals and personal quarantine guidelines were disseminated to country-specific communities, and when a recent foreign group infection occurred, preemptive testing was conducted in solidarity with them.

District Mayor Kim Sam-ho emphasized, “The 1% hope loan not only eased the breathing space of neighborhood markets but also accumulated trust as social capital. In particular, it was possible because five local credit unions and Saemaeul Geumgo, representing community finance, actively responded with the intention of returning the love they received from local residents.” He added, “Strong solidarity in the community is becoming the power to protect lives and property in times of crisis.”

In response, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun encouraged, saying, “The case of Gwangsan-gu, which promoted policies through communication, effort, and without resistance rather than one-way traffic, shows that the answer lies in the field. It is content that other local governments can refer to.”

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