Kang Gijeong: "Record-High National Funding Secured... Budget for a 'Prosperous Gwangju' Leap"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong announced at the city hall briefing room on December 3, 2025, "We have secured the largest-ever amount of national funds," adding, "Next year marks the first budget that will launch the era of a 'Prosperous Gwangju.'" He stated, "For the first time, the budget for the 'Revolution of Light' has been included, and the axes of AI and future mobility will be fully activated," emphasizing, "A prosperous Gwangju is no longer just a declaration; it is an actionable plan backed by a prepared budget."

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung is announcing the plan to secure national funds for 2026 at the city hall briefing room on the 3rd. Photo by Song Bohyun

원본보기 아이콘

The city of Gwangju secured a total of 3.9497 trillion won, an increase of 288.1 billion won during the National Assembly's review process from the government's initial proposal of 3.6616 trillion won. The budget includes symbolic democracy projects such as the May 18 Democratic Park and the preservation of the former Gwangju Red Cross Hospital, as well as core industrial projects such as the National NPU Computing Center, AI Data Center, and a future mobility pilot city. Additionally, the National Assembly added 10 billion won for Urban Railway Line 2 and 3.5 billion won for the relocation of the ammunition depot, addressing long-standing regional demands.

According to the 2026 national funding status announced by Gwangju City on this day, a total of 452 projects were included, with 56 of them being new initiatives. The final amount represents a record-high increase of 563.9 billion won (16.6%) compared to the previous year, more than double the national budget growth rate of 8.1%. Mayor Kang stressed, "This achievement is the result of the government, the National Assembly, and Gwangju working together as one team."

For the first time, the national budget has included funding for the 'Revolution of Light,' which strengthens the city's identity as a hub of democracy. Of the total project cost of 49 billion won for projects such as the construction of the May 18 Old Cemetery Democratic Park and the preservation and utilization of the former Gwangju Red Cross Hospital, 2.9 billion won has been secured for design costs. New cultural projects such as the Democracy History Museum, the Gwangju branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and a preliminary feasibility study for a branch of the National Assembly Library (1.65 billion won) have also been included, along with ACC Art Avenue and the Biennale Cultural Cluster.

Budgets for Gwangju's future industries, including AI, semiconductors, and mobility, have also been substantially reflected. The city secured 600 million won for a feasibility study on establishing a national NPU-exclusive computing center to verify and demonstrate domestic AI semiconductors (NPUs), and 500 million won for a regulatory-free Gwangju AI demonstration city. The AX Demonstration Valley project saw an increase of 5.6 billion won during the National Assembly review, up from the government's proposal of 24 billion won. Other major AI projects included the advancement of the National AI Data Center (19.2 billion won) and costs related to the establishment of the GIST AI Gifted School (3.14 billion won).

In the field of future mobility, the budget includes 61.7 billion won for the creation of an AI Mobility Pilot City, 200 million won for building an automotive parts circular economy infrastructure, and 2.4 billion won for a functional safety testing base for cognitive components of future mobility. The Semiconductor Packaging Demonstration Center, AI Semiconductor Demonstration Support, and projects to advance healthcare, beauty, and root industries will also be fully launched starting next year.

Budgets for responding to the climate crisis and improving urban infrastructure have also been included, such as the large-scale renovation of Gwangju Stream, the construction of artificial wetlands for water purification in the Yeongsan River, the maintenance of aging water supply systems, and measures to suppress algal blooms in Dongbok Lake. In the SOC sector, the expansion of the Honam Expressway (23.8 billion won), electrification of the Gyeongjeon Line (167.2 billion won), and the Gwangju-Gangjin Expressway (66.8 billion won) have been included. The National Assembly stage also added 10 billion won for Urban Railway Line 2, 3.5 billion won for the relocation of the Maruk-dong ammunition depot, and 6.44 billion won for the construction of the Gwangju Driver's License Test Center.

Mayor Kang stated, "With AI, future mobility, and democracy as our core pillars, Gwangju will become the most dynamically growing city in Korea over the next five years," expressing his gratitude to public officials, local National Assembly members, Democratic Party leadership, and citizens for their efforts in securing the budget.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.