Im Taek, Mayor of Gwangju Dong-gu, "All-Out Effort to Create a City Full of Fun, Emotion, and Desire to Stay"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Since the launch of the 8th term of the local government, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City has been focusing its administrative capabilities on creating a "city that anyone wants to visit." On the 100th day of his inauguration on the 8th, Im Taek, the head of Dong-gu, stated, "We will devote ourselves to creating a 'stay-type cultural tourism city' that offers fun and emotion to all visitors by utilizing abundant historical and cultural resources, and ultimately a city where people want to stay."

This is evidenced by the 'Fountain of Light' created around the May 18 Democratic Square on June 5, which has attracted over 20,000 visitors since its opening, and the 'Traveler's ZIP (Jip),' a convenience space for travelers that has welcomed about 10,000 visitors since its opening in August. These visible achievements demonstrate a hopeful progress in shedding the image of a 'boring city' and advancing to a 'fun city.'

Since Im Taek's inauguration, Dong-gu has set the administrative goal of "a village with neighbors, a warm and happy Dong-gu," and is currently developing and implementing 120 new policies across six major areas: ▲Bright and vibrant economic city ▲Hopeful autonomous city with a future ▲Cultural tourism city that people want to visit ▲Low-carbon eco-friendly ecological city ▲Safe and healthy city ▲People-centered humanistic city.

To revitalize the local economy, the top priority issue, a budget of 10 billion KRW will be invested over five years from this year to 2026 to accelerate the 'Chungjang Commercial District Renaissance Project.'

The strategy is to breathe new life into the Chungjang-ro commercial district, once the largest commercial area in Honam, to restore its former glory.

By fostering future strategic projects combined with artificial intelligence (AI), the goal is to create an economic city in Dong-gu where both small business owners and alleyway commercial districts, which have suffered long stagnation due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, can thrive.

Additionally, through the recently held 2023 New and Key Policy Report Meeting, tailored policies responding to social environmental changes in the COVID-19 era will be promoted across the six major areas.

Representative policies in each area include ▲Operation of 'Dong-gu Mom Taxi' ▲Creation of healing alleys in the city center ▲Establishment of a comprehensive carbon-neutral green growth plan ▲Construction of a safety and health management system to prevent major disasters ▲Establishment of a people-centered and dignified urban landscape.

In particular, face-to-face events that had been subdued for the past two years due to COVID-19 are now reviving, attracting high interest from local residents and people worldwide with consecutive events such as the 'Gwangju Dong-gu Korean Regional Book Fair,' 'KBS National Singing Contest,' 'Memories of Gwangju Chungjang World Festival,' and 'Buskers World Cup IN Gwangju' starting this month.

To this end, the '19th Gwangju Chungjang World Festival (10.13~17),' which has declared its leap to a global festival by changing its name for the first time this year, and the 'Buskers World Cup,' which has attracted passionate interest from street musicians worldwide, are being prepared with maximum administrative collaboration among departments.

Impressive achievements have also been made over the past 100 days. Following Im’s receipt of the grand prize in the basic division at the '2022 Korea Local Autonomy Development Awards,' Dong-gu won the grand prize in the public sector smart green city category at the '17th Korea Environment Awards,' the top prize in the climate change response category at the '2022 Korea Healthy City Awards,' and was selected as an excellent local government in the 'National Local Government Job Awards' hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the 'Regional Culture Awards' hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Moreover, Dong-gu was selected as the final target site among five autonomous districts for the pilot project to create a Smart Art Village hosted by Gwangju Metropolitan City, giving momentum to the 'Smart Art Travel City, Gwangju Dong-gu' project.

Additionally, the Gwangju Cultural Heritage Night 'Dong-gu Moonlight Walk' and the vivid cultural heritage 'Five Senses Satisfaction Pungnyu Walk' projects have achieved the remarkable feat of being selected for seven consecutive years as the only projects among the five autonomous districts.

Im Taek, head of Dong-gu, said, "I will deeply engrave the heavy responsibility entrusted to me once again, not lose my initial resolve, and devote all my capabilities to the development of our Dong-gu." He added, "Through continuous change and development, we will open the 'second golden age' in Gwangju with the most interesting sights, entertainment, and food."