“Gwangju, the Sanctuary of Democracy and Nobel Literature City, is the Optimal Location”
A debate hosted jointly by eight members of the National Assembly from the Gwangju region was held on the afternoon of the 30th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building under the theme "Why Gwangju for the Honam Branch of the National Assembly Library." [Photo by Jeong Junho's Office]
A forum for the establishment of the National Assembly Gwangju Library, jointly hosted by eight members of the National Assembly from the Gwangju region, was held on the 30th. The lawmakers held a discussion titled “Why Gwangju for the National Assembly Library Honam Branch?” at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that afternoon.
The forum was attended by local lawmakers including Yang Bu-nam, chairman of the Gwangju City Party of the Democratic Party of Korea, local council members such as Shin Su-jeong, chairperson of the Gwangju City Council, civic groups including the National Assembly Library Gwangju Branch Promotion Committee, and citizens.
Professor Park No-su (Graduate School of Public Administration, Kyung Hee University), who presented at the forum, stated, “The National Assembly Library should serve not only as a simple repository of materials but also as an information hub and knowledge-sharing platform to solve social issues,” adding, “It must fulfill its role in the era by establishing branches in regional hubs to expand national knowledge and information capabilities and support local legislative activities.” Professor Park further suggested, “In addition to the existing branches in Busan and Sejong, establishing the Gwangju Library is necessary to resolve information accessibility imbalances and strengthen the status of Gwangju as a city of democracy, human rights, and peace,” and proposed, “Regional specialization strategies such as a democracy and human rights specialized library should also be considered.”
Professor Noh Woo-jin (Department of Library and Information Science, Konkuk University), who participated in the discussion, advised, “Looking at overseas cases, national library branches take three forms: material preservation, regional balanced development and bridging knowledge and information gaps, and research and investigation functions,” and recommended, “The National Assembly Gwangju Library should aim to be a complex cultural space that includes books, exhibitions, and performances.”
Lee Kyung-jin, associate research fellow (Cultural Arts Value Diffusion Research Office, Korea Culture and Tourism Institute), pointed out, “The number of libraries in our country is much lower compared to the United States, Australia, Germany, and Japan, and 41.2% of public libraries are concentrated in the metropolitan area,” emphasizing, “Library functions should be diversified beyond simple material reading to include cultural programs, lifelong education, spaces for meetings and rest, and volunteering.”
Park Kyung-hyun, center director (National Balanced Development Support Center, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements), said, “Since the National Assembly Gwangju Library can be a starting point for creating a multi-nuclear national land structure, the feasibility of establishing it in Gwangju should be reviewed from the perspective of national land balanced development,” adding, “It is necessary to consider content enhancement reflecting Honam identity, selecting a location that can serve as a regional development hub, and spatial development plans linked with surrounding areas.”
Kim Seung-bong, promotion committee member (National Assembly Library Gwangju Branch Promotion Committee), stressed, “Gwangju is advancing as an AI-centered smart city,” and insisted, “The National Assembly Gwangju Library should be established as a future-oriented library led by AI, providing AI-based customized information services.”
Meanwhile, Jeong Jun-ho, lawmaker from Gwangju Buk-gu Gap, who hosted the forum, stated, “Following the National Assembly Sejong Hall and the Busan National Assembly Library, it is now time to attract a branch of the National Assembly Library to Gwangju, the city of Nobel laureates in literature,” and declared, “Through today’s forum, we will gather diverse opinions on how to establish the National Assembly Library in Gwangju, and the eight lawmakers from Gwangju will unite as one team to realize the citizens’ aspiration for the establishment of the National Assembly Gwangju Library.”
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