Mayor Kang Gijeong Requests Support for 1229 Maum Center from Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Acting Minister Ko Kidong Visits Gwangju
"Central and Local Governments Must Cooperate for Public Livelihood"

Kang Kijeong, mayor of Gwangju, is taking a commemorative photo after having a conversation with Go Kidong, acting Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, in the city hall business room on the 6th. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on the 7th that it has requested support from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for the establishment of the "1229 Mind Center" (provisional name) to provide psychological stability and healing for the bereaved families of the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster.

Mayor Kang Gijung met with Ko Kidong, Acting Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who visited Gwangju City Hall's business room the previous day to discuss cooperation between the central and local governments, and requested support for local issues.

Mayor Kang stated, "We are preparing to operate the '1229 Mind Center' to provide psychological stability and healing for the bereaved families and others affected by the passenger plane disaster," adding, "Whenever I hear stories from the bereaved families who cannot even sleep properly and are suffering from trauma, I feel we must quickly create a space to share their sorrow and heal their pain together."

He continued, "We must not become a society that demands individuals bear their sorrow alone," and emphasized, "Although sorrow does not disappear, those who grieve must come together and move toward healing, so that they can overcome their pain through the support of those around them. For this, active support from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is essential."

Mayor Kang also explained the policy of expanding discounts for the local gift certificate (Gwangju Sangsaeng Card) as a practical measure to help restore the livelihood economy of the Republic of Korea, which is facing a triple economic cold wave due to declining national growth rates, strengthened Trump-era protectionism, and political uncertainty.

He said, "At the national level, strong economic recovery policies are needed through a super supplementary budget and expansionary fiscal measures," adding, "To stimulate consumption, we need to support the issuance of local gift certificates so that money circulates in local areas and people's livelihoods can be stabilized."

The city's proposals also included establishing a legal basis for the operation of residents' self-governing councils and full government funding for the operation of the National Center for Trauma Healing from State Violence.

In response, Acting Minister Ko Kidong said, "In a situation of great internal and external uncertainty, it is necessary for the central government and local governments to join forces to ease public concerns and improve the livelihood of the people," and added, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will do its utmost to ensure that major regional development policies are implemented without delay and that communication between the central and local governments proceeds smoothly."

Meanwhile, Acting Minister Ko Kidong's visit to Gwangju was part of the 18th executive tour of the Association of Governors of Korea.