Democratic Party and Gwangju City Accelerate Issue Resolution with 'One Team Cooperation'

Discussion of Regional Issues and National Funding at Policy Council
National AI Computing Center, Inclusion of May 18 Spirit in Constitution, and More
City Requests Additional Inclusion of Ten Key Proposed Projects

On the morning of the 18th, Jeong Cheongrae, the leader, Kang Gijeong, the mayor, and other attendees who participated in the Democratic Party of Korea-Gwangju City Budget Policy Council held at the Gwangju City Hall medium conference room are taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Gwangju City

On September 18, Gwangju City and the Democratic Party of Korea held a budget policy council in the medium conference room at City Hall and agreed to work closely together to resolve major municipal issues and secure national funding for 2026.

The meeting was attended by Mayor Kang Gijeong, Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheongrae, Supreme Council member Hwang Myeongseon, Policy Committee Chairperson Han Jeongae, Budget and Accounts Committee Chairperson Han Byungdo, Chamjoeun Local Government Committee Chairperson Park Seungwon, Spokesperson Kwon Hyangyeop, Chief Political Affairs Officer Kim Younghwan, as well as all local National Assembly members including Yang Bunam, Jeong Jinwook, An Dogeol, Jo Incheol, Jeong Junho, Jeon Jinsook, Park Gyuntaek, Min Hyungbae, and Gwangju City Council Chairperson Shin Sujeong.

During the meeting, the city requested full support from the ruling party for its core strategic projects, focusing on attracting a national AI computing center with a budget of 2.5 trillion won, as well as initiatives in future mobility and energy (RE100). The city also proposed exempting the preliminary feasibility study for the Dalbit Railway construction project, including the Gwangju New Industry Line in the national plan, attracting three major national cultural facilities, and restoring the ecological stream at Yangdong Covered Market, among other social overhead capital (SOC) and regional issues.

When Mayor Kang Gijeong requested party-level cooperation to attract the national AI computing center, leader Jeong Cheongrae responded, "I understand that the mayor and citizens of Gwangju are working together to bring the national AI computing center to Gwangju. I sincerely hope, along with the citizens of Gwangju, that this will come true."

The city also requested the inclusion of ten additional key projects that were not reflected in next year's government budget proposal, such as the establishment of an AI gifted high school, the creation of a Democratic Park at the former 5·18 cemetery-the birthplace of the Revolution of Light, the development of a K-Culture Content Tech Town, and the relocation of the Mudeungsan anti-aircraft battery.

On the morning of the 18th, Jeong Cheongrae, the leader, Kang Gijeong, the mayor, and other attendees participated in a commemorative photo session at the Democratic Party of Korea-Gwangju City Budget Policy Council held in the Gwangju City Hall's medium conference room. Photo by Gwangju City

In particular, the city emphasized the need to expand government funding so that three innovative policies initiated in Gwangju and now set for nationwide implementation-Gwangju-style Integrated Care, breakfast support for industrial complex workers, and a 10 a.m. start for elementary school parents-can become national flagship policies.

Mayor Kang stated, "Attracting the national AI computing center is Gwangju's most pressing issue. The Democratic Party's support for our new challenge to make a living through AI and realize AI for everyone gives us great strength. Whether it is democracy, policy, or AI, Gwangju will open the growth plate for the Republic of Korea."

Leader Jeong added, "The spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising and Gwangju has blossomed into today's Revolution of Light. Gwangju contributed to the development of democracy in Korea, but what has Korea contributed to the development of Gwangju? The nation, the Lee Jaemyung administration, and the Democratic Party must answer this question."

He continued, "Gwangju must prosper for Korea to prosper, and the spirit of Gwangju must be alive and well for Korean democracy to stand on solid ground. We will do everything in our power to help Gwangju become a future growth hub for Korea, including advancing as an AI-centered city, expanding cultural infrastructure, and enshrining the spirit of May 18 in the preamble to the Constitution."

The policy issues proposed by Gwangju City at the council included eight items: support for Gwangju's selection in the national AI computing center competition, support for the first RE100 achievement by a company using agrivoltaics, exemption from the preliminary feasibility study and funding for the Gwangju-Daegu Dalbit Railway construction, inclusion of the Gwangju New Industry Line in the national plan, attraction of three major national cultural facilities, restoration of the ecological stream at Yangdong Covered Market, hosting the declaration of the era of national care with local communities in Gwangju, and constitutional amendment to include the spirit of May 18 in the preamble.

Additionally, as national funding requests, the city asked for the expanded inclusion of Gwangju-initiated innovative policies in the government budget proposal, establishment of a GIST-affiliated AI gifted high school in Gwangju, creation of a Democratic Park at the former 5·18 cemetery-the birthplace of the Revolution of Light, preservation and utilization of the former Gwangju Red Cross Hospital, establishment of a testing base for functional safety of cognitive components for future mobility, establishment of a demonstration center for vertical take-off and landing aircraft flight safety, creation of a K-Culture Content Tech Town, relocation of military units (mobile anti-aircraft battery in Mudeungsan), creation of an artificial wetland to purify the Yeongsan River, support for community-integrated care, and breakfast support for industrial complex workers for 1,000 won, totaling eleven items.

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