Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong Requests Resolution of Issues and National Budget Support at the People Power-Honam Region Budget Council

Discussion on Attracting Nationally Supported Complex Shopping Malls and Creating Semiconductor Specialized Complexes

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] On the afternoon of the 18th, Gwangju Metropolitan City and the People Power Party held the 2022 Budget Policy Council at the city hall's medium conference room, agreeing to join forces to resolve regional issues and secure next year's national budget.

This council meeting was the first of the regional budget policy councils conducted by the People Power Party across 17 metropolitan local governments nationwide.

It was held with the three Honam region provinces and cities?Gwangju City, Jeonbuk Province, and Jeonnam Province?gathered together.

Attendees included Kang Gi-jung, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City; Kim Kwan-young, Governor of Jeonbuk Province; Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province; Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party; Sung Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee; Kim Seong-won, Budget and Accounts Committee Secretary; Yang Geum-hee, Floor Spokesperson; and the heads of the city and provincial party committees of Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk, among other party leadership.

During the council, Gwangju City and the People Power Party exchanged opinions on legislative measures and policy support to resolve key regional issues, as well as strategies to secure national budget funds, discussing support plans at the party level.

Mayor Kang Gi-jung said, “Since the regime change, citizens have been very concerned about the neglect of the Honam region,” adding, “I ask that the People Power Party continue to show interest and affection for our Honam region and provide support.”

He also explained a key regional issue, the “attraction of a nationally supported complex shopping mall,” stating, “The shopping mall to be established in Gwangju is the ‘Korea No.1 Meta N-complex,’ a synergy of national support, private capital, and swift local government administration,” and added, “It is an unprecedented complex shopping mall model where private profitability and public interest coexist, aiming for core values of ‘Top of the top, coexistence, connection, and transparency.’”

To this end, he requested 900 billion KRW in national support for ▲a digital-based metropolitan integrated distribution center and ▲connecting road networks such as trams and roads.

Mayor Kang also emphasized AI 2.0 and the creation of a semiconductor specialized complex.

He proposed an increase in national budget to advance the AI cluster so that Gwangju can lead Korea’s AI industry as a representative AI city, and suggested designating a Gwangju-Jeonnam semiconductor specialized complex for regional balanced development and the re-advancement of Korea’s semiconductor industry.

On this day, Gwangju City explained the progress of 13 major projects including ▲attracting a nationally supported complex shopping mall ▲promoting AI 2.0 + semiconductor specialized complex creation ▲customized support for win-win regional jobs ▲completion of the Asia Culture Centered City project ▲national project for relocating Gwangju military airport ▲Yeongsan River and Hwangryong River Y-belt exciting project ▲creation of a comprehensive automobile theme park ▲construction of a meta-factory for future car parts, and requested active interest and support to ensure smooth progress of these projects.

In response, Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Party Leader, said, “The party will take great interest and actively support the resolution of Gwangju City’s issues and securing of national budget.”

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