[New Year's Address] Bang Se-hwan, Mayor of Gwangju, "I Will Lead City Administration with Extraordinary Determination"

Strong Promotion of Revitalization Policies to Support Self-Employed
Full Effort to Secure New Growth Engines for Fostering Future Industries

Respected 420,000 citizens of Gwangju and public officials! The new year of 2025, the Year of Eulsa, has dawned.

Bang Se-hwan, Mayor of Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province. Provided by Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province.

First of all, the Mu-an Airport disaster that occurred on December 29 last year is an extremely tragic and heartbreaking event. I sincerely pray for the repose of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery for the injured.

As mayor, I will lead the city administration with unwavering determination and a strong sense of responsibility amid the urgent domestic situation and difficult economic conditions.

For the hopeful changes of the Year of Eulsa and the realization of a happy city of Gwangju, I will turn the tasks we have been pursuing into tangible results one by one, and complete all projects so that 2026 can mark the pinnacle of the 8th elected term.

First, it is urgent to breathe warmth into the local economy. We will vigorously promote revitalization policies that help small business owners and self-employed people, such as the local economy revival campaign, economic vitality support, and regional coexistence projects at large construction sites.

Support to enhance corporate vitality is also urgent. We will invest a total of 8.3 billion KRW in corporate capacity-building projects and small-scale business environment improvement projects, striving to strengthen corporate competitiveness and improve regulations, advancing one step further toward a city favorable for business. We will continue to focus on securing new growth engines for fostering future industries.

We will continue to strive to secure new growth engines for fostering future industries. The Gwangju Convergence Cluster project, which is being concretized through a business agreement with Sejong University last year, will proceed with the implementation of the urban planning facility execution plan within the year to expedite the groundbreaking as much as possible.

Also, we will complete the industrial land expansion plan service in 2026 and actively engage in the creation of large-scale industrial complexes to realize economies of scale and secure industrial competitiveness.

Agriculture is the root industry of Gwangju, a city combining urban and rural areas. We will activate the Natural Vegetable Food Farm Center to actively expand the local food consumption market and nurture it as a space for cultural exchange connecting urban and rural areas. In addition, with a focused support of 2.4 billion KRW for smart farming, modernization of facility horticulture, and eco-friendly support, we will create a competitive and hopeful rural community.

Second, we will complete the construction of urban infrastructure and take a step closer to becoming a self-sufficient city.

Based on the specialized strategies for each zone?Gyeongan·Opo, Gonjiam·Chowol, Namhansanseong·Toechon?presented in the 2040 Gwangju City Basic Urban Plan, we will establish the framework of a 500,000 self-sufficient city and implement future-oriented urban policies.

We will open life SOC complex facilities to enhance citizen convenience in the second half of this year in Opo Sinhyeon and Gosan areas, and accelerate the groundbreaking of the Chowol Sports and Culture Complex Center. The Wood Education Comprehensive Center, being developed as a leading base for the carbon-neutral era, will begin construction in the first half of the year, and the integrated biogasification facility scheduled for groundbreaking in 2026 will be steadily promoted.

During the remaining period, we will unwaveringly complete the urban infrastructure promised to citizens and accelerate the visualization of the self-sufficient city foundation that enhances urban completeness.

Third, we will complete education welfare that makes three generations happy. Through a welfare budget of 552.1 billion KRW, we will realize robust welfare that leaves no one behind and reduce blind spots in care for vulnerable groups.

We will find breakthroughs to overcome low birthrate and aging society. According to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of the fourth quarter last year, the monthly birth registration in Gwangju averaged 183, an 11.7% increase compared to the same period the previous year.

Building on this rebound trend, we will consistently pursue Gwangju-style population policies.

We will spare no investment in the future of Gwangju. We will invest 19.5 billion KRW in education expense support projects to improve the educational environment and support capacity-building programs.

Fourth, we will firmly address the biggest issue, transportation. We will accelerate the pace of five railway network projects, including the Suseo?Gwangju line starting construction this year, and especially make every effort to have the extension of the Gyeonggang Line, the GTX-D branch passing through Gwangju, and the Pangyo?Opo light rail reflected in higher-level plans.

Through this, we will advance the opening of the railway era centered on Gwangju Station by 2030 and vigorously move forward as a transportation and logistics hub city in the metropolitan area. We will implement phased measures aligned with the citizen-centered bus route system reform and promote the public management system for city buses, fully implemented in 2027, on an annual basis to enhance the stability of public transportation services.

We will proceed with the expansion of major road networks as planned. Along with the completion of the Yeokdong?Yang Beolgin road this year, we will complete major projects such as the construction of entrance and exit ramps for the Seongnam?Janghowon exclusive automobile road and the expansion and paving of Route 338 between Seongnam and Gwangju, Section 2, in 2026 to resolve habitual congestion areas.

Finally, we will fully open the curtain on the sports hub city. Within the year, we will complete all processes of eight main facilities including the main stadium of the comprehensive sports complex and the internationally certified indoor swimming pool, and complete the standardization of 10 facilities including Gwangju Public Stadium and Opo Life Sports Park. Through this, we will successfully host the 2026 Provincial Sports Festival and become a genuine sports hub city in the metropolitan area.

Also, by preparing distinctively with cultural and economic sports festivals, we will make it a powerful stage for a leap forward that showcases urban competitiveness and serves as an opportunity to bring about secondary ripple effects such as revitalizing the local economy.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous new year.