Gwangju City Council Holds Policy Forum on 'Measures to Revitalize Urban Agriculture'

City Councilor Lee Hong-il: "Need to Establish Urban Agriculture Suited to Gwangju's Characteristics"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Gwangju Metropolitan Council held a forum on the 26th under the theme of ‘Establishing Measures to Revitalize Urban Agriculture in Gwangju Metropolitan City,’ seeking ways for urban agriculture to respond to changes in the era such as COVID-19.

Chairing the session, Councilor Lee Hong-il (Democratic Party, Dong-gu 1) said, “Urban agriculture is one of the methods to realize the Green New Deal, and it is important to spread public empathy and interest in urban agriculture in citizens’ daily lives,” adding, “To this end, it is necessary to establish revitalization measures for urban agriculture that fit the regional characteristics and conditions of Gwangju.”

Choe Chang-wan, Research Director at the Gwangju-Jeonnam Research Institute, who presented a report, analyzed the current status of urban agriculture promotion in Gwangju and argued, “To revitalize urban agriculture in Gwangju, it is necessary to build a rural-urban symbiosis foundation and foster future-oriented convergence urban agriculture.”

Another presenter, Ko Chang-rok, Urban Agriculture Policy Advisor of Gwangju City, emphasized, “It is necessary to promote Gwangju-style urban agriculture that leverages regional characteristics, and to this end, a mid- to long-term plan should be established aiming to become a leading city in Korea’s new urban agriculture industry.”

Councilor Lee Hong-il said, “I hope that citizens exhausted by COVID-19 will find health and stability through urban agriculture, and I will work together with Gwangju City to revitalize urban agriculture.”