‘Independent Candidacy’ Seo Dae-seok, Gwangju Seo-gu Mayor, Promises ‘Realization of Resident Autonomy’

Five Promises Including AI-Based Care Projects Presented

Seo Dae-seok, Mayor of Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, held a press conference on the 2nd at the Gwangju City Council to announce his independent candidacy and reveal his campaign promises.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Seo Daeseok, Mayor of Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, who announced his independent candidacy after being excluded from the Democratic Party's nomination, presented five pledges.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, Seo held a press conference at the Gwangju City Council and made promises for the continued development of Seo-gu.

His first pledge is the realization of ‘complete resident autonomy’ through a neighborhood (dong) government where residents are the owners, based on autonomy and participation.

He said, "The Dong Administrative Welfare Center, which is in close contact with residents, will be empowered as the ‘closest living government’ to play a central role in the village by boldly transferring budget, authority, personnel, etc. We aim to complete a virtuous cycle of resident autonomy where local issues are considered and resolved by the residents themselves, centered on the resident autonomy council." He promised, "In the 8th term of the elected government, we will expand support for resident participation budgets and significantly support practical authority and personnel to revitalize the dong government so that genuine complete resident autonomy can be realized."

The second pledge is the establishment of a nationwide, Korea-representative ‘K-Welfare Model’ through an AI-based ‘Integrated Care Project.’

Seo said, "Since 2019, Seo-gu has been conducting a community-integrated care project as a pilot project of the Ministry of Health and Welfare to enable local elderly residents to live healthy old lives where they lived, providing housing, health care, nursing, care, and daily life support." He emphasized, "We will complete the ‘K-Welfare Model’ so that the world’s attention, which went to Northern Europe for welfare study tours, will turn to our Seo-gu."

The third is the completion of the ‘Seo-gu Healthy Community’ with customized policies responsible for residents’ health.

This plan includes continuously promoting prevention projects related to infectious diseases including COVID-19 and completing a higher-level quarantine system and quarantine model.

The fourth pledge is the establishment of a foundation to achieve the ‘2045 Carbon Neutral City’ through climate crisis response management.

He said, "We will increase renewable energy production by installing citizen-participatory solar power plants and supporting renewable energy convergence projects to improve energy self-sufficiency." He promised, "Also, through electric two-wheeler rentals and customized support for climate change vulnerable groups, we will implement a carbon reduction policy that all citizens can empathize with and participate in, realizing ‘Seo-gu, the 2045 Carbon Neutral City.’"

Lastly, he pledged to resolve large-scale pending projects that will determine Seo-gu’s 100-year future, including the relocation project of the Maryuk-dong ammunition depot.

He emphasized that he will cooperate with Gwangju City, work together, and even plead when necessary to place these projects on a solid foundation.

Seo promised, "I will cooperate with Gwangju City and, when necessary, plead to place projects directly linked to the future development of our Seo-gu on a solid foundation."