[Overseas Koreans Agency Target] Gwangju "The Best Place for Democracy, Human Rights, and Peace City"

Nation's First Integrated Care Service Includes 'Foreign National Koreans'

Strength in Experience Creating and Supporting 'Koryoin Village' for Disaster and Discrimination-Affected Migrants

The competition to host the 'Overseas Koreans Agency' to support over 7.3 million overseas Koreans in more than 190 countries is heating up.

Gwangju City officially entered the race last month by submitting a letter of intent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It expects effects such as population inflow due to hosting a government agency, revitalization of the local economy, and highlighting its identity as a city of democracy, human rights, and inclusion.

Kang Ki-jung, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Gwangju emphasizes its justification for hosting by highlighting its abundant overseas networks as a human rights city and social capital necessary for the settlement of overseas Koreans, its achievements as an 'inclusive city' with accumulated experience in immigrant inclusion and social integration, and the need for regional balanced development in Gwangju, which lacks government and public institutions.

Starting April 1, Gwangju became the first local government nationwide to include foreign nationals and overseas Koreans with foreign nationality who need care as beneficiaries of the integrated care service. It was the first to accept Koryoin (ethnic Koreans from the former Soviet Union) who migrated to escape economic hardship and discrimination, creating and supporting the 'Gwangju Koryoin Village.'

Currently, about 7,000 Koryoin overseas Koreans live in the Gwangju Koryoin Village. Recently, following the outbreak of the Ukraine war, voluntary fundraising helped about 900 Koryoin overseas Koreans return to Korea and took the lead in supporting their settlement.

Based on these points, Gwangju claims to be the optimal location for the Overseas Koreans Agency.

Mayor Kang Ki-jung of Gwangju said, "In May, the 'World Federation of Koryoin Organizations' will establish its headquarters in Gwangju, serving as a domestic hub for overseas Koreans in Central Asia," adding, "Gwangju has sister and friendship city exchanges with 40 cities in 20 countries, seeking diversification of city diplomacy, and has a rich overseas Korean network including the World Honam Association."

He continued, "As a global city of democracy and human rights, Gwangju has active exchanges and solidarity with related international organizations and cities, hosts the annual World Human Rights Cities Forum, and is establishing itself as an international city," explaining, "It possesses international relations networks for overseas Korean support such as the Gwangju International Exchange Center, China Center, the Chinese Consulate General in Gwangju, and the Korean office of the Uzbekistan Labor Office."

Furthermore, he said, "Gwangju has no government agency headquarters including external agencies and significantly fewer public institutions compared to other regions, so consideration is needed from the perspective of national balanced development."

Gwangju also highlights its advantage as the largest international city in the Honam region, where culture and advanced industries coexist.

Known as the city of Samhyang (City of Righteousness, City of Art, City of Taste), it boasts abundant food, entertainment, and sightseeing, good living conditions, and opportunities where culture and future coexist.

Park Yong-su, Director of the Democracy, Human Rights and Peace Bureau of Gwangju City, said, "As an international conference city designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Gwangju plays a representative MICE role in the Honam region with the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center, and is promoting the construction of a second exhibition hall scheduled to open in 2026," emphasizing, "It has rich experience in hosting large-scale international conferences, events, and meetings, and offers convenient access via railways such as KTX and SRT and flights from overseas, the Seoul metropolitan area, and the Yeongnam region."

He added, "Mudeungsan National Park, Yangnim-dong Penguin Village, and the Chungjang Festival provide abundant sightseeing and food options with well-established living conditions, and the largest complex shopping mall in the southern region is being promoted," adding, "There are government facilities such as the Gwangju Regional Joint Government Building and the Narakeum Gwangju Integrated Government Building, and ample land is available for separate external agencies or center sites."

In the Koryoin Village, Gwangju plans to publicize how the local community has cared for Koryoin overseas Koreans returning to Korea and persuade overseas Koreans worldwide of the validity of hosting the agency in Gwangju.

Residents of the Goryeoin Village wishing for the Overseas Koreans and Foreigners Office to be located in Gwangju. [Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City]