"Urban Safety Forum" Brings Together Industry, Academia, Research, and Government for a Safer Jeonnam and Gwangju

Min Hyung-bae: "We Must Establish a Disaster Response System That Works in the Field"


Professor Changyoung Song Proposes Urban Flood, Social Disaster, and AI-Based Response Policies

In the wake of a series of disasters and accidents such as the collapse of the Gwangju Metropolitan Library, the Hwajeong I-Park collapse, and the explosion at the Yeosu National Industrial Complex, the "Urban Safety Forum" was held in Gwangju to discuss a region-specific disaster response system in the era of climate crisis.

The Department of Disaster and Safety Management at Gwangju University Graduate School and the Urban Safety Forum Preparatory Committee held the "Urban Safety Forum for Safe Jeonnam and Gwangju in the Era of Climate Crisis" on the afternoon of the 18th at the Hosimgwan Small Auditorium of Gwangju University. Approximately 200 people attended the forum, including officials from relevant organizations, academic experts, and business leaders.

Attendees are taking a commemorative photo at the 'Urban Safety Forum for a Safe Jeonnam and Gwangju in the Era of Climate Crisis' held on the afternoon of the 18th at the Hosimgwan Small Auditorium of Gwangju University. Photo by Boyun Song

This forum was organized to strengthen the effectiveness of region-specialized disaster safety policies and establish a sustainable safety ecosystem by building a network of industry, academia, research, and government experts.

Min Hyung-bae, the Democratic Party candidate for Mayor of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special City, attended the event and delivered a congratulatory speech.

Candidate Min said, "Since Jeonnam and Gwangju are regions with many mountains, long coastlines, and both urban and rural areas, it is important to establish a comprehensive safety system tailored to these regional characteristics." He added, "We must be well prepared for disaster response from the outset." He continued, "I hope today's forum becomes a venue for finding disaster preparedness solutions that can be implemented directly in the field."

In his welcoming remarks, Kim Dongjin, President of Gwangju University, stated, "As modern cities become more advanced and densely populated, even a single accident can have a cascading impact on the entire urban system, making it essential to have a more systematic and proactive response capability." He added, "I hope that by bringing together representatives from industry, academia, research, and government, we can propose customized roadmaps for the future safety policies of Jeonnam, Gwangju, and the Republic of Korea."

Professor Changyoung Song of the Department of Disaster Safety at Gwangju University Graduate School is giving a keynote speech on "Proposals for a Worldwide and Sophisticated Safe City" at the Hosimgwan Small Auditorium of Gwangju University on the afternoon of the 18th. Photo by Bohyun Song

The keynote speech was delivered by Professor Changyoung Song of the Department of Disaster and Safety Management at Gwangju University Graduate School (former member of the Presidential National Policy Task Evaluation Committee). Professor Song gave a presentation on the topic "Suggestions for a World-Class and Distinguished Safe City."

In his presentation, Professor Song outlined the current disaster safety situation in Jeonnam and Gwangju, presenting cases of natural disasters caused by climate change and social disasters arising from new risk factors. He explained that storm and flood damage, including typhoons and heavy rainfall, occurs repeatedly in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions, and that the scale of damage is increasing due to climate change.

He specifically highlighted the 2020 heavy rainfall damage in Gwangju, as well as the collapses of the Gwangju Metropolitan Library and the Hwajeong I-Park, and the explosion at the Yeosu National Industrial Complex, pointing out the risks of social disasters. He also identified several problems in disaster safety policy implementation: the gap between policy and citizens' perceived safety, the shortage of disaster safety professionals, and limitations in disaster safety awareness.

Professor Song proposed the following disaster safety policy initiatives for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special City: the establishment of a Disaster Safety Inspection Corps; the promotion of a Pan-Citizen Disaster Safety Task Force; the development of an urban flood preparedness system; the creation of a disaster safety theme park for the Honam region; the implementation of a disaster safety master plan for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special City; the establishment of a social disaster management system; the "100-Year Industrial Complex Safety Infrastructure Project"; the creation of a digital-based integrated social disaster management platform; the enhancement of disaster response capabilities for safety management personnel; the promotion of a citizen safety education center; the establishment of an AI-based monitoring system for vulnerable groups; and the training of disaster safety professionals.

The subsequent open discussion was moderated by Professor Song and featured participation from Sangman Jeong, Professor at Gongju University; Byungsoo Yang, Senior Researcher at the Korea Disaster Safety Technology Institute; Gyeseung Lee, Director of Construction and Industrial Accident Prevention Supervision at the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office; Jaewoo Seo, Head of the Honam Branch of GS Engineering & Construction; and Joon Jeong, Senior Pastor of Shinan Church.

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