Gwangju City and the Democratic Party Join Forces to Resolve Key Issues Including Airport Relocation

City Hall Holds 'Local Autonomy Policy Council' Meeting
Mayor Kang Ki-jung Requests "Prompt Discussion on Airport"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung, district mayors, and Democratic Party members of the National Assembly attended the "2024 Democratic Party Gwangju Branch Local Autonomy Policy Council" held on the afternoon of the 1st at the city hall's medium conference room and took a commemorative photo before the meeting. Provided by Gwangju City

The Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Gwangju City Party of the Democratic Party of Korea join hands for regional development. They have agreed to unite their efforts to promote major local issues such as the integrated relocation of the Gwangju civil-military airport through the Gwangju-Jeonnam Win-Win Development Task Force (TF) and the swift advancement of the Gwangcheon-Sangmu urban railway line.

On the afternoon of the 1st, Gwangju City held the "2024 Democratic Party of Korea Gwangju City Party Autonomy and Decentralization Policy Council" in the city hall’s medium conference room, the city announced on the 2nd.

The council was attended by Mayor Kang Gi-jung of Gwangju, Yang Bu-nam, Chairperson of the Democratic Party Gwangju City Party, Assembly members Jeong Jin-wook, An Do-geol, Jeong Jun-ho, Jeon Jin-sook, Park Gyun-taek, Min Hyung-bae, 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, Gwangsan-gu District Mayor Park Byeong-gyu, Vice Chairpersons of the Gwangju City Council Seo Yong-gyu and Chae Eun-ji, city and district council members, and Chairperson Jo Seung-hwan of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee.

Mayor Kang, in his report on current issues, said, “I thank the National Assembly for their support in enacting the ‘Gwangju Military Airport Special Act’ which includes government support. The integrated relocation of the civil-military airport has entered a new phase with the formation of the Democratic Party Gwangju-Jeonnam Win-Win Development Task Force (TF), and expectations are high. As the government-level inter-ministerial consultative body is also resuming operations, I ask everyone to work together for the integrated relocation of the civil-military airport.”

The city also proposed key agenda items including ▲ Gwangju as a transit, bicycle, and pedestrian-centered city (Da-Ja-Bo), with the swift promotion of the Gwangcheon-Sangmu urban railway line ▲ A book-friendly city, with the establishment of a Gwangju branch of the National Assembly Library ▲ Hosting the 2025 National Local Government Policy Expo organized by the National Assembly ▲ Construction of an eco-friendly metropolitan resource recovery facility and improvement of the waste disposal fee surcharge system ▲ Legislation and national funding support to revitalize public delivery apps ▲ Establishing legal grounds for the operation of residents’ autonomy councils.

Mayor Kang added, “I ask for your utmost efforts until the end to secure budgets for major Gwangju projects such as the AI Phase 2 project.”

The Democratic Party proposed a public debate on the complex shopping mall, and each regional committee submitted proposals on key local issues.

Yang Bu-nam, Chairperson of the Gwangju City Party, stated, “Members of the National Assembly are elected by residents and share the common purpose of existing for the city’s development and its residents. Through legislative activities, we must do our best to discover good ideas or projects, propose them to the executive branch, and ensure they are implemented through in-depth discussions. I hope the Autonomy and Decentralization Council becomes a place where good opinions from the executive and legislative branches come together to achieve Gwangju’s development.”