Song Gap-seok Preliminary Candidate Announces Pledge to Realize 'Gwangju as a Hub of the 4th Industrial Revolution'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Song Gap-seok, the Democratic Party preliminary candidate for Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu (Gap) in the April 15 general election, announced key pledges for Gwangju's development to realize a "4th Industrial Revolution-centered Gwangju."

On the 30th, Candidate Song stated in a press release, "We will boldly yet substantively promote a new Gwangju-type economic model to improve the lives of Gwangju citizens," adding, "Gwangju can be the first to start South Korea's innovative growth and manufacturing renaissance."

The first pledge announced by Candidate Song is to promote the introduction of "regulation-free zones" and "regulatory sandboxes" related to the artificial intelligence (AI) industry to foster the development and leap of advanced innovative industries.

The plan is to open new avenues for research on new industries and new technologies constrained by various regulations, and to establish new related facilities and systems to lead the activation of free research and investment.

To secure competitiveness in the big data industry, which is the root industry of artificial intelligence, the relocation of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) Big Data Center to Gwangju will also be actively pursued.

Additionally, through the Youth Gwangju Support Act (tentative name) and the "Brain Gwangju" policy, incentives will be provided and legal amendments pursued to nurture and support specialized personnel at institutions such as KEPCO University and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), promising to build human infrastructure to prepare for the 4th Industrial Revolution.