Yoon, who delved into Honam public sentiment and New York plans... "Gwangju complex shopping mall to become a digital landmark"

Presiding over the Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting... "AI Competitiveness Ranked 3rd Globally, Data Market Exceeds 50 Trillion Won"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 8th Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting held on the 28th at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju. /

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 28th, "We will make the Gwangju complex shopping mall a world-class digital innovation landmark." The 'Gwangju complex shopping mall' was a regional pledge made by President Yoon during the last presidential election, seen as a move to secure public support in Honam through fulfilling the pledge while also preparing follow-up measures for the 'digital strategy' announced during his recent U.S. visit.

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon held the '8th Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting' at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju, ordering government-wide support measures for the digital and artificial intelligence policy directions discussed during last week's trip.

In particular, he brought up the construction of the complex shopping mall in Gwangju, a sensitive issue for both ruling and opposition parties. President Yoon urged, "From the shopping experience of Gwangju citizens to the promotion and logistics management of stores, please make special efforts in Gwangju Metropolitan City to utilize cutting-edge digital technologies including artificial intelligence so that it can become a world-class digital innovation landmark."

The construction of the Gwangju complex shopping mall was a pledge made by President Yoon during the last presidential election. After the new government took office, efforts seemed to be underway to attract private businesses, but recently, civic groups and opposition parties have expressed negative views citing the protection of self-employed and small business owners, slowing progress.

President Yoon's mention of the Gwangju complex shopping mall was interpreted within the ruling party as a strategic move to capture both regional public sentiment and digital initiatives. It sent a message about fulfilling regional pledges aimed at Honam while requesting government-wide cooperation on 'digital innovation' linked to national policy tasks.

Support from the ruling party is also expected to intensify. The People Power Party leadership held the nation's first budget policy consultation meeting in Gwangju last July, discussing issues including the attraction of the complex shopping mall, artificial intelligence (AI), and future mobility, and is currently preparing follow-up support measures.

Before his inauguration, President Yoon visited the Gwangju Artificial Intelligence Academy and has twice visited to guide the construction of the artificial intelligence data center. Gwangju is promoting the establishment of an AI cluster as a representative AI city and holds annual AI exhibitions and conferences.