Communicating with Citizens at Songjeongmaeil Market While Shopping
Listening to Merchants' Concerns Over a Meal
Urging Cooperation Between Kumho Tire Labor and Management... Discussing Plant Relocation
Traditional Market Shopping with Districts and City-funded Organizations Until the 30th
Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong visited Songjeong Daily Market in Gwangsan District on the 21st ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday to encourage merchants and conduct a campaign for subscribing to the traditional market fire mutual aid insurance. Photo by Gwangju City
Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung has officially begun efforts to realize this year's key city administration theme of "A Warmer Livelihood Economy." Mayor Kang approached the livelihood economy by shopping at a traditional market and also discussed opinions regarding the relocation plan for the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant, one of the most pressing local economic issues.
On the 21st, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, Mayor Kang visited Songjeongmaeil Market in Gwangsan-gu to directly meet merchants struggling with the ongoing economic downturn and weakened consumer sentiment, listening to their voices and engaging in communication about the livelihood economy.
At the market, Mayor Kang purchased chestnuts and vegetables using Onnuri gift certificates and checked the current prices of daily necessities. He also conducted a campaign to promote fire insurance subscriptions for traditional markets and urged fire prevention during the winter season. Mayor Kang introduced the "Traditional Market Fire Insurance Support Project," in which Gwangju City covers 60% (up to 120,000 KRW) of the fire insurance premium.
Subsequently, at a gukbap restaurant inside the market, he held an on-site meeting under the theme "The Day for Traditional Markets to Rise Again," listening to the difficulties faced by merchants. The meeting was attended by Songjeongmaeil Market Merchants Association President Lee Kyungja, Vice President Na Jeongcheol, and other association executives, who shared their challenges and discussed ways to overcome the frozen consumer sentiment brought on by the political turmoil and to expand consumer spending. They also discussed measures to revitalize the market and increase visitor numbers.
Mayor Kang stated, "The livelihood economy is truly difficult, but I will do my utmost to expand consumer spending and create good jobs," adding, "I hope the new year will be a time to turn despair into hope. I will do everything I can to ensure that the upcoming Lunar New Year becomes a day for us to rise again."
To boost traditional markets ahead of the Lunar New Year, the city is holding a large-scale "Traditional Market Shopping Event" from the 15th to the 30th, with participation from the five autonomous districts and city-funded organizations. Additionally, to revive the frozen livelihood economy, the city is leading efforts to stimulate domestic demand throughout January with a 10% discount on the Win-Win Card, activation of the public delivery app, and consumer promotion campaigns.
Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong is meeting with the chairpersons of the 2nd and 3rd labor unions at Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant in Gwangsan-gu on the afternoon of the 21st. Photo by Gwangju City
Mayor Kang held a meeting at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant with CEO Jeong Iltaek, the second labor union chairman Hwang Kyungsoon, and the third labor union chairman Oh Yunyoung.
At this meeting, Mayor Kang was briefed on the recent upward trend in Kumho Tire's business performance and discussed the plant relocation plan. He also exchanged opinions with the labor unions regarding employment issues related to the relocation. Since 2017, Mayor Kang has met with Kumho Tire labor and management several times to discuss and seek solutions to the Gwangju plant relocation issue.
The city plans to begin pre-negotiations for land use change if Kumho Tire fulfills legal requirements such as purchasing a new plant site and commencing construction, even while the current Gwangju plant is in operation, and if the current plant site developer presents a concrete development plan.
Kumho Tire CEO Jeong Iltaek stated, "As Kumho Tire is a company that has grown in Gwangju, we will strive to become a company that local residents are proud of by strengthening our social contribution activities and earning the love of the community. Taking this meeting as an opportunity, we will communicate and cooperate closely with Gwangju City."
Mayor Kang said, "The relocation of the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant is a long-standing wish of the region and will be a major turning point for the development of the Gwangju Songjeong Station area, a key transportation hub. Gwangju City is ready to cooperate immediately and to the best of its ability in accordance with the wishes of Kumho Tire's labor and management."
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