Gwangju Cultural Artists Declare Support for Candidate Lee Yong-seop

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Local cultural artists have declared their support for Lee Yong-seop, the Democratic Party of Korea's Gwangju mayoral candidate.

They announced on the 22nd that they had released a declaration of support in the name of 1,000 people at the election campaign office on the 21st.

They said, "We highly appreciate the outstanding administrative capabilities demonstrated by Mayor Lee Yong-seop of Gwangju during the 7th local government term, and deeply sympathize with the fact that through the 20 major achievement tasks, Gwangju has become a better place to live, a city full of jobs, and a city where young people who left are returning."

In particular, they stated, "Over the past four years, starting with the Gwangju Permanent Stage, the project to brand Gwangju culture has become a key goal, the outdated performance halls have been remodeled, and a cultural center performance hall was built in Buk-gu, Gwangju, where cultural spaces were desperately lacking, providing a foundation for more active creative activities."

Furthermore, they said, "Candidate Lee promised to establish creative support funds for young artists if elected in the 8th local government term, and we have high expectations for the opportunities to create jobs in the cultural and arts sector through the media creative city initiative."

They also said, "We hope to create a new K-Culture by diversely researching and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) clusters, metaverse, NFTs, and other technologies combined with arts as an industry together with local cultural artists."

They added opinions on establishing an organization to act as an ombudsman to innovate the structure of support policies mainly focused on some artistic vested interests, ensuring that city budgets are well utilized from top to bottom.

They expressed their support by saying, "Gwangju needs an experienced mayor! A mayor who mediates well! A mayor who communicates smoothly with citizens! A mayor who loves arts and understands culture, and a mayor who dreams and loves together for the future of youth. We will actively support the election of Lee Yong-seop, the Gwangju mayoral candidate."

The declaration of support was led by Lee Kyung-eun, representative of the local arts community (Gwangju Opera Company Steering Committee member, adjunct professor at Chungnam National University), along with vice representatives Yoo Hyung-min (President of Gwangju Vocalists Association), Joo So-yeon (Myungchang), Chae Song-hwa (Concertmaster of Bitgoeul Festival Ensemble), and Kim Min-ho (adjunct professor at Hosin University Practical Music Department). Also attending were executive directors Jung Soo-yeon (adjunct professor at Chosun University K-Culture Performance Planning Department), Lee Joon-haeng (conductor of Dream Orchestra), Lim So-yeop (President of Gwangju Music Academy Association), Kang So-ra (adjunct professor at Jeonnam Provincial University), youth committee chair Park Hye-kyung, youth committee representatives Hwang Hye-yoon, Seo In-seon, Kwon Ye-bin, Lee Ji-hyang, Baek Ga-eun, Jang Ji-won, Kang Bo-ran, Kim Ji-eun, Shin Han-sol, university student representatives Baek Young-jun, Yoon Kyu-min, Kim Si-hyun, Jung Ui-jin, Bang Ho-jun, Kim Dae-kyung, and youth representative Kim Ji-a.