Joo Gi-hwan, Gwangju Mayor Preliminary Candidate, Officially Announces Candidacy... "Will Connect Yoon Government and Honam"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Joo Ki-hwan, former head of the investigation division at Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, officially announced his candidacy for the People Power Party's Gwangju mayoral preliminary candidate on the 19th.

On the same day, candidate Joo emphasized at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Promotion, "I will become a strong bridge connecting the newly launched Yoon Seok-yeol government and Honam," and "We will move toward an era of a 10 trillion won budget."

Candidate Joo stated, "So far, I have strived to live a consistent life of loyalty to the nation as a public official and service to the citizens. As a member of the new government, I stand here to be chosen as a public official who can serve the citizens of Gwangju," and appealed, "If entrusted with the mayor's duties, I will be a faithful public servant for the 1.44 million citizens of Gwangju from the first day to the last day of my term."

He continued, "I will make Gwangju the Silicon Valley of South Korea," promising to establish an industry-academia-research AI cluster linked with the National AI Data Center and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, as well as create an AI semiconductor specialized complex, AI gifted high school, and AI-Metaverse convergence city.

He added, "Based on Gwangju's AI technology competitiveness and potential, I will secure firm support from the central government to strategically support the development, production, and distribution of metaverse cultural content, which has recently attracted attention."

Furthermore, he expressed, "I will strive to transform Gwangju into a leading city for future mobility," and said, "We will finalize plans in consultation with the central government to establish a future-oriented automobile materials, parts, and equipment specialized complex, as well as a vehicle power and semiconductor cluster centered on the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex. We will promote the advancement of the automobile industry based on AI technology."

Additionally, he stated, "The Gwangju Democratization Movement is a massive current and pillar supporting South Korea's constitutional system. To research and pass on the spirit and values of this democratization movement, we will establish the 5.18 International Institute for Liberal Democracy. We will prepare to establish a world-class research institute in Gwangju by fully gathering opinions from the 5.18 organizations as well as related experts."

At the press conference for his candidacy, People Power Party's Yang Hye-ryeong, preliminary candidate for Gwangju Dong-gu District Mayor, Park Jin-woo, preliminary candidate for Gwangju Dong-gu Council member, and Kim Hwa-jin, chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Party Committee, were present.