Noh Gwan-gyu, Mayor of Suncheon, Aiming to Make Suncheon a Cultural Industry Hub

Anime and Webtoons at 'K-Disney Suncheon'

Announcement of Global Branding Strategy for Ecological City

Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu) held a press conference on the 28th in the city hall’s main conference room to mark the 2nd anniversary of the 8th elected administration, presenting the achievements of the past 730 days and a blueprint for future city governance.

Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu stated, “The past two years have been a time of utmost effort to transform the city’s structure and strengthen its competitiveness by maximizing the resources we have,” adding, “In the next two years, we will devote all our efforts to making Suncheon a cultural business hub in South Korea that competes with the world’s top cities through bold choices and focused strategies for the city’s future.”

[Photo by Suncheon City]

Mayor Noh mentioned, “The 2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo, which set a new milestone for South Korea, has become a new role model for cities dreaming of change,” highlighting Suncheon’s significantly elevated status and global influence.

He first said, “Suncheon was recognized as the city that saved 226 local governments nationwide by the Presidential Committee on Local Autonomy and received a special award.”

Furthermore, he emphasized, “Suncheonman National Garden, visited by one in five Koreans, surpassed Everland to become the number one domestic tourist destination, and Suncheon’s competitiveness was showcased to the world through invitations from international organizations such as the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and the Ramsar Convention.”

He added, “Recently, at the ‘2024 Jeju Forum,’ I was the only local government head among metropolitan governments invited to present a global branding strategy for ecological cities.”

He explained that the increased city competitiveness from the garden expo has greatly contributed to preparing for a new future, including the promotion of Dongcheon to a national river and the preliminary designation as a cultural city of South Korea.

Mayor Noh said, “Last year, Suncheon University was the only institution in Gwangju and Jeonnam to be finally selected for the Glocal University 30, and it was the only one in cultural content and, together with nearby cities, designated as an opportunity development zone for secondary batteries.”

He also emphasized, “We have attracted investments worth 1.2 trillion won from 11 companies including Hanwha Aerospace, Lotte Chemical, and Hanwha Ocean Ecotech, and are accelerating efforts to create a safe environment for childbirth and child-rearing, such as operating Jeonnam’s first Moonlight Children’s Hospital and public postpartum care centers.”

Looking ahead to the next two years, Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu said, “We will do our utmost to guarantee jobs for young people preparing for the future and revitalize the local economy to prevent regional extinction.”

He stated, “If the previously designated National Suncheon University Glocal 30, Opportunity Development Zone, and the upcoming Education Development Zone are designated, the institutional foundation for a new future will be fully established,” adding, “On this institutional foundation, we will create high value-added jobs preferred by young people in cultural content industries such as webtoons and animation.”

He also said, “Last year, Hanwha Aerospace settled here,” and added, “We will accelerate the development of the insufficient industrial complexes and fill them with materials, parts, and equipment companies related to space and aviation.”

He continued, “In cooperation with local universities, we will nurture practical talents and expand the economic domain by fostering advanced industries such as secondary batteries, defense, and bio, which will lead Suncheon’s future.”

Mayor Noh said, “We will speed up the completion of a regionally self-sufficient public healthcare system through the establishment of a public health medical foundation and fund formation, and wisely resolve the attraction of Suncheon University’s medical school and the construction of next-generation public resource facilities.”

Other major projects to be promoted include the restoration of the Dongcheon estuary wetlands, creation of the National Marine Garden in the Yeojaman area, expansion of large-scale accommodation facilities, transformation of rural areas, and promotion of a green bio innovation hub.

Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu emphasized, “In the past two years, Suncheon has transformed its urban structure and strengthened competitiveness to set the standard for cities in South Korea,” adding, “Suncheon will rise beyond being a city of Suncheonman and gardens to become a global cultural industry hub competing with the world’s best cities through cultural content.”