Speaker Woo Won-shik Tours Gwangju Design Biennale

A Stepping Stone for K-Culture and K-Democracy on the Global Stage

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong is viewing the exhibition works of the "2025 Gwangju Design Biennale" at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall with Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, who visited Gwangju on the 5th. Provided by Gwangju City

On September 7, the city of Gwangju announced that Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, who visited Gwangju on the 5th, toured the "2025 Gwangju Design Biennale" exhibition at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall together with Mayor Kang Gi-jung.

The tour of the Gwangju Design Biennale was attended by Speaker Woo Won-shik, Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Assemblyman Ahn Dogeol, Chief Secretary to the Speaker Cho Oseop, CEO of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation Yoon Beommo, and Choi Susan, General Director of the 2025 Gwangju Design Biennale.

They viewed exhibition works including: ▲ "35 Years of Inclusive Design - OXO and Smart Design" ▲ "LG Electronics: Adding Warmth to Everyone's Daily Life" ▲ "Gwangju Urban Railway Inclusive Design Project" by Gwangju Design Promotion Agency ▲ "E-Mobility Modular Home Appliances for Expanding Spatial Experience" ▲ "Third Thumb," a robot-assisted thumb ▲ "Rami," a care robot for the elderly, among others.

Before the tour, Speaker Woo wrote in the guestbook, "To the world with democracy and the Gwangju Spirit, together with the Gwangju Design Biennale!" He stated, "The theme of the Gwangju Design Biennale is Inclusive Design, which directly aligns with the Gwangju Spirit that aspires to a democratic society where everyone is respected, not discriminated against or excluded. I hope that the Gwangju Design Biennale will raise the stature of Gwangju and the Republic of Korea, and become a stepping stone that further highlights K-Culture and K-Democracy on the global stage."

Mayor Kang Gi-jung said, "I am grateful to the Speaker for visiting Gwangju immediately after returning from China's Victory Day celebrations. On May 17, you powerfully voiced the Gwangju Spirit on Geumnam-ro, and today, you have shared Gwangju's culture and arts, which are rooted in May 18. As this exhibition was prepared with the hope that the inclusive spirit of Gwangju-a city with the special name of the Gwangju Spirit-will become more widely known, your visit will greatly contribute to the development of Gwangju's culture and arts."

Meanwhile, the "2025 Gwangju Design Biennale" is welcoming visitors at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall until November 2. This year's exhibition is themed "Inclusive Design" and is organized under the title "The World That Is You: How Design Embraces Humanity." It highlights the social role of design in recognizing differences among all people and seeking ways to live together, going beyond aesthetic and functional dimensions. The exhibition consists of four themed halls: Worldview, Life, Mobility, and Future. A total of 429 designers and 84 organizations from 19 countries, including the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom, are participating.