Gwangyang City Announces Top 10 News Stories

Gwangyang Love Gift Certificates 10% Discount, 60 Billion Won Sold Out, etc.

Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do announced on the 28th the ‘Top 10 News of Gwangyang City in 2023,’ highlighting the most remarkable and attention-grabbing events of the year, including the ‘Complete Sell-Out of 60 Billion KRW Worth of Gwangyang Love Gift Certificates with a 10% Discount.’

According to the city, to select the ‘Top 10 News of Gwangyang City,’ a survey was conducted from the 8th to the 19th of this month via the city’s homepage and Naver Form, gathering opinions on major policies and current projects promoted by the city throughout the year.

[Photo by Gwangyang City]

A total of 1,584 people responded to the survey, with 590 men (37.2%) and 994 women (62.8%), showing a higher participation rate among women.

By age group, those in their 30s and 40s were the largest groups with 412 respondents each, followed by those in their 50s (362), 20s (225), 60s (136), teens (20), and 70s (17). The economically active age group of 30 to 50 accounted for 74.9% of all respondents.

As a result of the survey, the top 10 news items with the highest votes among 20 options were selected as the ‘Top 10 News of Gwangyang City.’

The highest voted news was ▲‘Complete Sell-Out of 60 Billion KRW Worth of Gwangyang Love Gift Certificates with a 10% Discount!’ which was chosen as the top news of the year.

On September 1st, the city sold out 60 billion KRW worth of Gwangyang Love Gift Certificates with a 10% discount, contributing to the mutual growth of small business owners and citizens, preventing the outflow of local funds, and revitalizing the local economy.

For 2024, the city plans to actively support the issuance of 70 billion KRW worth of Gwangyang Love Gift Certificates, up from 60 billion KRW in 2023, to further stabilize small business management and boost the domestic economy.

▲‘2023 Social Safety Index - Best Livable Area’ ranked first in the Honam region.

Among 184 cities, counties, and districts nationwide, Gwangyang City received an A grade in the Social Safety Index, ranking 29th among local governments nationwide and first in the Honam region (Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, Gwangju).

The A grade, which corresponds to the top 30 local governments nationwide, was mostly concentrated in the metropolitan area, but Gwangyang was the only city in the Jeolla region to rank 29th nationwide, enhancing its reputation as a safe and livable city.

▲‘2023 SNS Evaluation, Awarded in 3 Categories’ was also recognized.

The city promoted friendly communication using ‘Maedoli,’ sharing city news and diverse content in culture, arts, and tourism, and won awards in three categories* at the ‘2023 SNS Evaluation.’

* ‘13th 2023 Korea SNS Awards’ Best in Basic Local Government category, ‘6th 2023 Our Neighborhood Character Awards’ Excellence Award for ‘Maedoli,’ and ‘9th SNS of the Year 2023’ KakaoStory category Grand Prize

Not only did the city achieve seven consecutive years of awards in SNS-related fields since 2017, but it also established itself as the top local government nationwide in the SNS sector.

▲‘Record High Investment Attraction of 2.5 Trillion KRW This Year’ also drew significant attention.

This year, the city secured investment agreements with 11 companies, including POSCO Lithium Solutions Co., Ltd., POSCO Future M Co., Ltd., and Jeonnam Cloud Data Center Co., Ltd., attracting a total investment of 2.5335 trillion KRW, setting a new record.

This achievement was the result of creating favorable investment conditions and securing competitiveness through key policies such as a complete revision of the investment attraction ordinance, operation of investment advisors, and city-funded subsidies (100% city funds).

▲‘Building a Life-cycle Welfare Platform to Create a First-class Welfare City’ was also selected.

The city has established a welfare system covering the entire life cycle, from supporting diagnostic test fees for infertile couples, expanding childbirth incentives, operating 100 KRW city buses for elementary to high school students, supporting youth housing costs, running life redesign programs for middle-aged citizens, to expanding senior job opportunities. This inclusive welfare system aims to create a warm, citizen-centered welfare city where all generations can enjoy happiness from fetal stage to old age.

▲‘Top Grade Award for the First Time in Gwangyang City in the Evaluation of the 8th Term Mayoral Pledge Implementation Plan’ was also named.

The ‘8th Term Mayoral Pledge Implementation Plan Evaluation’ assessed 226 local governments nationwide based on 35 indicators across four areas: preparedness, democracy, transparency, and pledge consistency. Gwangyang City was selected for the first time ever with an SA grade (highest excellence).

▲‘Gwangyang’s Population Policy Worked... Increase of 1,800 People’ was also highlighted.

Focusing on youth-friendly policies such as supporting interest on youth housing loans, nurturing local talent and creating quality jobs, and organizing matchmaking events for unmarried men and women, the city achieved an increase of 1,800 people in population, even as neighboring cities experienced declines.

Going forward, the city plans to develop long-term population policies reflecting Gwangyang Bay’s unique characteristics to respond to the crisis of local extinction through continuous population inflow and settlement.

▲‘Gwangyang-type Customized Job Creation for Regional Industries... 9 Consecutive Years of National Local Government Job Awards’ was also selected.

This year, the city created about 460 jobs through workforce training and employment linkage tailored to regional industrial demands, including the POSCO Employment Academy and secondary battery material recruitment contract-type workforce training.

Notably, all 50 trainees in the secondary battery material recruitment contract-type workforce training in the first half of the year (1 at POSCO Future M, 49 at POSCO Philbar Lithium Solutions) secured early employment.

Additionally, the city won the Excellence Award at the ‘2023 National Local Government Job Awards’ hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, becoming the only city in Jeonnam to win for nine consecutive years, confirming its status as the top city for jobs.

Finally, ▲‘Expansion of Economic Territory through Resolution of Donghoan Regulations... 4.4 Trillion KRW Investment’ also attracted great interest this year.

The Donghoan area of the Gwangyang National Industrial Complex was previously restricted by current laws from investments in new industries such as secondary batteries and hydrogen industries. However, after efforts including visits to relevant central government ministries since August last year, the ‘Enforcement Decree of the Act on Industrial Sites and Development’ was revised in October.

This revision laid the foundation for attracting large-scale investments in new industries such as secondary batteries and hydrogen energy. POSCO Group announced a 10-year investment plan of 4.4 trillion KRW in the Donghoan site for national advanced industries, giving momentum to Gwangyang City’s new industry initiatives.

Mayor Jeong In-hwa of Gwangyang said, “The ‘Top 10 News’ was prepared to look back on 2023 and listen to various voices regarding city administration,” and added, “We thank all citizens and everyone who showed interest in city affairs and actively participated in the survey.”

He continued, “Next year, we will do our best to implement various policies that will empower citizens’ lives and create a ‘Touching Era, Warm Gwangyang.’”

Meanwhile, Gwangyang City plans to hold a photo exhibition related to the Top 10 News starting from the 29th at the first-floor lobby of City Hall.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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