Gwangju City to Hold 'Reviving the People's Economy' Resolution Rally on the 23rd

Over 200 Participants from Local Governments and Economic Organizations Gather at Gwangju Chamber of Commerce
Economic Stakeholders Pledge to Overcome Crisis and Achieve Sustainable Growth

Kang Kijeong, mayor of Gwangju, participated in the "Consumption Promotion Relay Campaign for Livelihood Economy Recovery" held at Songjeong Station in Gwangsan-gu on the morning of the 24th last month, distributing promotional materials to citizens. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City, its autonomous districts, and the business community will hold an “All-Institution Resolution Rally to Overcome the Economic Crisis.” This event expresses the urgent need for all institutions and organizations in the Gwangju area, led by the business sector, to unite and revive the local economy.

On the 16th, Gwangju City announced that it will host the “(Tentative Title) 2025 Gwangju Livelihood Economy Revival Resolution Rally” at 10:30 a.m. on the 23rd in the main conference room of the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This event is being organized to strengthen the resolve to overcome the regional economic crisis and achieve a new leap forward, as the local economy faces increasing difficulties due to the economic downturn, political instability, and the recent Jeju Air passenger plane accident.

More than 200 participants from over 60 organizations and groups will attend, including Gwangju City and City Council, the five autonomous districts, local public institutions, central government agencies such as the Gwangju Regional Office of SMEs and Startups and the Gwangju Regional Public Procurement Service, economic organizations such as the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gwangju Employers Federation, and Korea Federation of SMEs, financial institutions such as the Bank of Korea Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters, Financial Supervisory Service Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch, Gwangju Bank, and commercial banks, as well as the Gwangju Small Business Association, Gwangju Merchants Association, small business owners, and the industrial sector.

The city plans to use the “Livelihood Economy Revival Resolution Rally” as an opportunity for economic-related institutions and organizations to cooperate with one heart. These organizations and groups will pledge to take action in areas such as ▲job creation ▲investment activation ▲consumption promotion ▲support for SMEs and small businesses.

For job creation, companies will expand recruitment, the Employers Federation will promote mid-to-late career employment projects, and the Labor Office and Employment Center will actively support job matching. In addition, institutions will share investment strategies and goals to drive investment activation through efficient resource allocation.

To promote consumption, various policies such as prepayment and consumption promotion campaigns will be implemented. All institutions will participate in prepayment initiatives, the Regional Office of SMEs and the Small Enterprise and Market Service will issue Onnuri gift certificates, and autonomous districts and public institutions will conduct consumption promotion campaigns.

Support policies for SMEs and small businesses will also be developed. The Small Enterprise and Market Service, Credit Guarantee Foundation, and banks will provide financial support; the Chamber of Commerce, Employers Federation, and Women Entrepreneurs Association will support enhancing business competitiveness; KOTRA and the Korea International Trade Association will assist with exports and trade; and the Korea Federation of SMEs will support market expansion for small and medium-sized enterprises.

After the resolution rally, these organizations and groups plan to further support small businesses and revitalize the local economy by having lunch at local small restaurants or traditional markets.

Gwangju City is promoting the “Five Major Livelihood Economy Revitalization Projects” to overcome the local economic crisis, as consumer sentiment has sharply declined due to the “12.3 Martial Law and Impeachment Incident.”

Last December, the city held a special year-end discount event through its public delivery app and designated a “Nearby Restaurant Day” for all city hall employees, making efforts to share the burden of small business owners and self-employed people.

Since the beginning of this year, the city has offered a 10% special discount on the Gwangju Mutual Growth Card for one month in January and has conducted a relay campaign to promote consumption with 25 participating institutions.

The consumption promotion relay campaign started with the city and now includes the five autonomous districts, four public corporations/foundations, and 15 investment/contribution organizations. Gwangju City kicked off the campaign on the 24th of last month at Gwangju Songjeong Station, and on the 13th, Seo-gu took the second baton.

Mayor Kang Gi-jung emphasized, “The current economic crisis is intertwined with various factors such as employment, income, consumption, and the local economy. There are limits to what a single institution can do, so we must cooperate based on the expertise of economic organizations and the policy execution capabilities of administrative agencies. Through the Livelihood Economy Revival Resolution Rally, in which all institutions participate, we will create an opportunity for all economic players in the region to unite and cooperate, and we will do our utmost for sustainable economic growth and overcoming the economic crisis.”

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