Emphasized at the 79th Liberation Day Celebration at ACC
Gwangju, an Optimal City for Fostering Cultural Industry through AI
On the 15th, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung emphasized the solidarity between Korea and ASEAN countries, which share the same pain of colonial rule, at the 79th Liberation Day celebration held at Theater 2 of the National Asian Culture Complex Arts Theater. He also presented the vision of an ‘AI×Culture-Centered City,’ combining Gwangju’s cultural and artistic assets with an artificial intelligence (AI) foundation.
Attending the celebration were Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Ko Wook, head of the Gwangju branch of the Liberation Association, Lee Jeong-seon, Superintendent of Education, National Assembly members Ahn Do-geol and Park Gyun-taek, Kim Jeong-hyun, chairman of the People Power Party Gwangju City Committee, Dong-gu District Mayor Im Taek, Seo-gu District Mayor Kim I-gang, Nam-gu District Mayor Kim Byeong-nae, Buk-gu District Mayor Moon In, and Gwangju City Council members Jeong Da-eun, Choi Ji-hyun, Myeong Jin, Lee Myeong-no, Hong Gi-wol, Im Mi-ran, and Park Mi-jeong.
Ambassadors from ASEAN countries, including Teresa de Vega, chair of the ASEAN ambassadorial group from the Philippines, as well as ambassadors from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, delivered congratulatory messages for Liberation Day.
Gwang-ki Jeong, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, attended the '79th Liberation Day Celebration' held on the morning of the 15th at the National Asian Culture Complex (ACC) Arts Theater in Dong-gu and delivered a congratulatory speech. [Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City]
Mayor Kang Gi-jung stated on Liberation Day, "The liberation we enjoy today was won through the sacrifices of countless patriots and the hardships of many common people." He added, "To repay that dedication, we will develop Gwangju into ‘Korea’s AI×Culture-Centered City’ and contribute to Korea and the world through the power of advanced culture."
Mayor Kang said, "Liberation is a global historical event that transcends the boundaries of the Korean Peninsula. It is the day we gained independence from Japan, the day of liberation for East Asia, and the day peace began in the world after the end of the world war." He continued, "Korea and several ASEAN countries, which fought against the enormous power of imperialism last century to achieve independence, have formed a ‘solidarity of memory,’ and that memory has become a ‘shared asset’ to open a new era."
He further stated, "Gwangju’s declaration as an Asian cultural hub was also a pledge to nurture shared assets and cooperate. Culture and arts provide opportunities to interact with a broader world. Gwangju must grow the solidarity of memory into a ‘Korea-Asia Peace and Prosperity Community’ through culture and arts."
Mayor Kang emphasized, "Gwangju’s culture and arts will meet AI to create new cultural and economic value. I stress that Gwangju is the city best optimized for fostering the cultural industry through AI," adding, "Culture meets technology to become industry, and technology meets culture to prove its value of existence."
In conclusion, Mayor Kang said, "Gwangju is a proud city, and it fully deserves our pride. On this 79th anniversary of Liberation Day, when the meaning of liberation is diminished and it is a divided liberation, I express my gratitude to everyone who showed unity here in Gwangju."
Mayor Kang also expressed respect and gratitude to the late Hwang Seong-gyu, selected as an independence merit awardee, and to Kim Cheon-sik, Yang Seung-bin, and Ko Young-cheol, who received awards for patriotic service.
Meanwhile, prior to the celebration, Mayor Kang paid tribute at the Gwangju Independence Movement Memorial Tower located in Sangmu Citizens’ Park.
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