"AI and the Future of Gwangju" Democratic Party Outlines Presidential Election Pledges

AI, Airport Relocation, and Megacity...
Unveiling the 'Seven Major Initiatives'

With the verdict on the presidential impeachment trial imminent, the Gwangju branch of the Democratic Party of Korea has unveiled a tailored strategy for Gwangju in preparation for an early presidential election.

On the morning of the 18th, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, paid respects at the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

The policy development team of the Democratic Party of Korea's Gwangju branch recently announced on the 19th that, after discussions with Gwangju's National Assembly members, they have prepared and submitted to the central party seven major presidential election pledges for Gwangju and pledges for each of the five autonomous districts.

The key pledge is to foster Gwangju as an 'Artificial Intelligence (AI) City.' Based on the national AI data center located in Gwangju, the plan includes attracting a national AI computing center with a budget of 2.5 trillion won and promoting the Artificial Intelligence Transformation (AX) demonstration project. Other major initiatives include the integrated relocation of Gwangju's civilian and military airports, elevating the status of the director of the National Asia Culture Center and launching the Asia Culture Hub City Agency to vitalize cultural hub city projects, and establishing a future mobility city through future vehicle demonstration and pilot complexes.

Additional pledges include improving the water quality of Gwangju Stream and the Yeongsan River, and promoting a southwestern megacity linking Gwangju, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Saemangeum. Finally, the plan also includes attracting a national high magnetic field research institute. High magnetic field research, along with synchrotron radiation accelerators and neutron scattering devices, is considered one of the three core areas in modern physics, helping to observe minute substances at the molecular level and discover new materials.

Yang Bunam, head of the Gwangju branch, stated, "As the possibility of an early presidential election becomes real, it was necessary to prepare feasible pledges focused on current issues," and added, "Once the presidential candidate is confirmed, we plan to finalize the pledges in consultation with the election campaign committee."