Mayor Kang Gijeong: "Value-driven Administration is Gwangju's Strength"

The Last Regular Assembly of the Year... Sharing One Year’s Achievements
“Keep Running for Citizen Happiness in the New Year” Urged

Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung attended the regular December meeting held on the morning of the 16th in the city hall's main conference room and delivered a message under the theme, "You are the strength of Gwangju, thank you for your hard work this year." Photo by Gwangju City

On the 16th, Kang Gi-jeong, Mayor of Gwangju, held the last regular assembly of the year in the city hall's main conference room and encouraged the staff by saying, "The public officials who worked harder than anyone else throughout the year are the 'strength of Gwangju.'"

Mayor Kang reviewed the efforts and achievements of Gwangju City over the past year with public officials, including the 'Top 10 Star Policies that Shined in Gwangju,' and said, "There are countless invisible policies, not only star policies but also those sown like seeds for the future," adding, "Thank you all for your hard work, and please work even harder for the happiness of citizens in the new year."

Mayor Kang praised the hidden efforts of public officials during the hectic 10 days following the 'December 3 Internal Conflict.' Since the declaration of martial law, the city has held various meetings, including a countermeasure meeting on the 3rd, a joint meeting declaring the invalidity of the emergency martial law to protect the constitution in Gwangju, the formation of a local livelihood safety task force, and an emergency livelihood economy meeting, focusing all efforts on ensuring citizens' daily safety and protecting livelihoods.

Mayor Kang said, "I was trembling as I drove to city hall after convening an executive meeting immediately following the declaration of martial law. Thinking about 45 years ago when martial law was imposed, I thought I might even go to prison," and added, "However, thanks to the citizens and people who experienced May and took it as a lesson, strongly resisting and fighting back, we changed the course of history."

He continued, "The torch of May has expanded from candles to cheering sticks and has grown wider. The value of May is growing even more with the spirit of inclusion," and added, "Gwangju has become a common noun meaning the coexistence of human atrocity and dignity, as writer Han Kang said, and administration must operate in accordance with the value of the common noun 'Gwangju.'"

Mayor Kang emphasized, "Let us examine one by one whether our policies are faithful to human dignity and aligned with the spirit of sharing and coexistence," and said, "Please deeply remember that we stand here to carry out valuable administration. This will become the strength of Gwangju."

Meanwhile, at the regular assembly that day, congratulations were extended on writer Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature, and an independent bookstore exhibition was held toward making Gwangju a 'city of reading.'

To revitalize local bookstores, six independent bookstores participated, displaying 20 to 30 recommended books from each store, and a small event was planned by issuing independent bookstore purchase vouchers so that employees could use independent bookstores.

Public officials also pledged to eradicate drunk driving during the year-end and New Year holidays. After watching a promotional video, they took the 'Drunk Driving Eradication Oath,' which included the commitment, "We will not forget our ethical responsibility and social role as public officials and will not engage in the criminal act of drunk driving under any circumstances."