Gwangju City Receives Presidential Institutional Commendation at the Korea Energy Awards

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City was honored on the 22nd with the Presidential Institutional Commendation in the energy efficiency improvement category at the ‘2020 Korea Energy Awards’ hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The ‘Korea Energy Awards’ is the most prestigious award in the field of energy industry development and efficiency improvement, recognizing individuals and organizations that have contributed to national energy efficiency improvement by saving energy and improving the energy usage environment.

Gwangju City was the only local government to receive the Presidential Institutional Commendation, recognized for its continuous efforts in promoting energy efficiency improvement projects, establishing citizen-centered and citizen-participatory energy governance organizations, and creating the Energy Valley industrial complex to build an AI-linked low-carbon green city.

It was highly evaluated for laying the foundation to more flexibly promote energy-saving and energy transition policies, such as being designated as an ‘Energy Industry Convergence Complex.’ In particular, the city’s establishment of citizen-led energy policies and continuous consultations through the public-private governance body ‘Gwangju Regional Energy Transition Network’ to achieve a shared vision were also highly praised.

Since the government announced the Korean New Deal in July, although a short period, Gwangju has actively and proactively promoted the ‘Gwangju-type 3 Major New Deals.’ As a result, President Moon Jae-in highly praised these efforts during his remarks at the Cabinet meeting last month. Mayor Lee Yong-seop was invited to the Green Growth Committee policy forum under the Prime Minister’s office, where he presented the ‘Gwangju-type Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Green New Deal’ case, demonstrating that Gwangju is leading as a green new deal pioneer city nationwide.

Gwangju City has set the goal of becoming the first energy self-reliant city nationwide by 2045 through energy saving and energy transition. To realize this, it has established a public-private cooperation system and is promoting various projects. Recently, Gwangju was designated as a regulatory free special zone for green energy ESS (Energy Storage System) power generation, achieving tangible results.

Son Kyung-jong, Director of the AI Industry Bureau of the city, said, “As a result of our city’s active promotion of energy efficiency improvement, including being the first nationwide to declare the 2045 energy self-reliant city initiative, we received the highest honor, the Presidential Commendation.” He added, “We will make 2021 the first year of promoting the Gwangju-type Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Green New Deal, accelerate fostering new energy industries, and revitalize the local economy.”