Choi Chi-hyun: "Gwangsan Must Play the Role in Gwangju-Honam Win-Win Future Development"

'Great Transformation Era, Policy Forum Changing Mines' Held

Vision and Win-Win Proposals for Southern Region Centered on Gwangju and Songjeong Stations Draw Attention

Discussions on Future Cars, Eodeungsan Development... Proposal for Constr

Choi Chi-hyun, chairman of the nonprofit organization Together Majung and former Blue House administrative officer, drew attention by presenting a future development strategy for Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, his local area, that not only envisions the future of Gwangju but also promotes cooperation and coexistence with Honam.

On the 23rd, Chairman Choi argued at the "Policy Forum to Change Gwangsan in the Era of Great Transformation," held in the main conference room on the first floor of the KBI Hanam Knowledge Industry Center, that Gwangsan-gu in Gwangju should play a role in realizing Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea’s vision for the southern metropolitan area in Gwangju and Honam.

He said, "We must lead the extinction of local areas to local recovery and show that vision," adding, "As the population gap between the metropolitan area and local regions widens, a grand plan for southern unification is necessary."

He emphasized that linking Gwangsan with nearby cities and counties such as Hampyeong, Naju, Jangseong, and Damyang is essential for Gwangsan to grow and for Gwangju and Honam to survive the crisis of local extinction.

The policy forum was chaired by Professor Lee Myung-gyu of Gwangju University, with discussants including Professor Shin Woo-jin of Chonnam National University, Park Hee-joo, CEO of Luxium Energy, Professor Kim Young-chun of Nambu University, and Professor Kang Sung-soo of Chonnam National University, who shared policies and opinions on the present and future of Gwangsan.

Issues across Gwangsan such as the future car national industrial complex, Eodeungsan development project, and renewable energy were discussed.

Chairman Choi stressed, "Young Gwangsan must serve as an incubator that nurtures talent and creates jobs," and emphasized the need to attract specialized training institutions and improve the quality of education.

He revealed development directions and policies in five areas for Gwangsan’s future vision: economy, culture, education, welfare, and climate change response, and also proposed the construction of a second Gwangsan government office to handle increasing administrative civil complaints and ensure smooth administrative services.

Professor Shin Woo-sik, the first discussant, supported Chairman Choi’s opinion that Gwangsan-gu should be the center for Gwangju’s development, noting, "Gwangju Songjeong Station, the hub of Gwangju, is located in Gwangsan-gu, and its effect as a tourism and transportation hub is significant."

He also agreed with the opinion that the Eodeungsan development project should be developed as a stay-type complex tourism zone and added that support measures for public housing should be considered for Gwangsan to become a young and profitable city.

Park Hee-joo, CEO of Luxium Energy and former chairman of the Energy Council, the second discussant, shared the difficult reality of R&D companies, saying, "Energy new industry-related R&D companies need about five to ten years of research and development to generate profits."

He continued, "Although Gwangju has regional research infrastructure, there are no cooperative companies to concretize national projects, so it inevitably falls behind the central region," and suggested the need for a technical education center to support R&D companies.

Professor Kim Young-chun, the third discussant, expressed the opinion that "social welfare should be addressed from a regional rather than a national perspective, and Gwangsan, with diverse social welfare needs across all ages and genders, should create its own welfare model tailored to the characteristics of its residents."

He also hoped that welfare policies would be sustainable even if local government heads change, and proposed policy suggestions and solutions to local issues through a permanent platform for public-private communication.

In the final fourth discussion, Kang Sung-soo, director of the Biomaterials Development Center, said, "As a Gwangsan resident for 20 years, I hope for a Gwangsan where everyone is happy," and proposed the creation of an innovation cluster like Pangyo, stating, "If jobs and education are solid, many young people will come to Gwangsan."

Additionally, quoting Confucius, who said, "Good politics is when the people next to you are happy and many people come," Chairman Choi offered a blessing that he would become a good politician.

Attending as an audience member, Professor Emeritus Lee Jung-rok of Chonnam National University advised, "A leader is someone who considers others and listens," encouraging young politicians to demonstrate new, reformative, and transformative leadership and to adopt a servant leadership attitude (a leadership style based on respect for humanity, serving and supporting members to draw out their potential).

Chairman Choi said, "I will pour my experience and capabilities accumulated in local government, central government, and the Blue House into the development of Gwangsan so that this can be a valuable opportunity to accurately see Gwangsan’s reality and realize its blueprint," and expressed gratitude to the policy advisory group for their valuable insights.

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