[Interview] Jeong Inhwa, Mayor of Gwangyang: "Building a City Where People Want to Live for a Lifetime"

Expansion of Stay-Type Tourism Infrastructure by Region
Secondary Battery and Hydrogen Industries as Future Strategic Sectors
Twelve Key Pledges Underway... 74.6% Implementation Rate
"All Administrative Capabilities Focused on Local Economic Recovery"

On the 14th, we met with Jeong Inhwa, Mayor of Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do, and conducted an interview regarding Gwangyang's vision, development strategies, and key policies and current issues.

- What are the main policies and local issues of Gwangyang?

▲ The year 2025 marks a very important point as it begins the latter half of the 8th popularly elected administration. As I stated in my New Year’s address, this year, under the goal of making Gwangyang a city where people want to live for a lifetime, we are pursuing various core tasks such as fostering future new industries and job creation, expanding the foundation for a tourism city where visitors can stay, and creating an attractive rural environment for young people.

Jung Inhwa, Mayor of Gwangyang.

Among these, we are currently focusing on two recent local issues. The first is stabilizing the local economy. Even amid political turmoil, from the declaration of martial law on December 3 last year to the impeachment of the president on April 4 this year, Gwangyang City has prioritized protecting the livelihoods of its citizens without wavering.

After the declaration of martial law, we held an emergency meeting on livelihood stabilization measures and prepared various policies. However, realizing the limitations of the city’s efforts alone, we convened the "1st Livelihood Stability Consumption Promotion Council Meeting" on February 3 with the aim of finding solutions through cooperation among citizens, government, and businesses. The meeting was attended by the Gwangyang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gwangyang Steelworks, POSCO labor union, and local business organizations, who shared the current situation and discussed various ways to overcome the challenges.

Currently, each organization is sharing roles and continuing practical actions for local economic recovery. With the president's impeachment upheld, we plan to hold a second meeting this month to continue discussing ways to revitalize the local economy, such as promoting consumption.

The second issue is the change in tariff policy following the launch of the Trump administration's second term. As the Trump government implements protectionist policies based on America First, Gwangyang’s key industries, steel and secondary batteries, are directly affected. In particular, the imposition of high tariffs can worsen the profitability of export companies and lead to reduced production and employment, so Gwangyang City is focusing its administrative efforts on proactively responding to this crisis.

On February 24, we held a "Trump 2nd Term Tariff Policy Response Meeting" to review the crisis facing local industries due to changes in trade policy and to share the current status of the steel and secondary battery industries with businesspeople, members of the National Assembly, provincial and city councilors, and related organizations and groups. We also listened directly to the difficulties faced by companies. Since then, the city has been conveying the voices of businesses to the National Assembly and central government, while continuously requesting the designation of the Gwangyang Bay Area as a Special Industrial Crisis Response Zone and the additional designation of a specialized cluster for advanced strategic secondary battery industries, in cooperation with Yeosu and Suncheon.

Additionally, together with Jeollanam-do and Suncheon, we have launched a research project to establish measures to strengthen the competitiveness of the steel industry in the Gwangyang Bay Area, securing basic data necessary for crisis response zone designation and preparing mid- to long-term response strategies. Furthermore, by launching the "Jeonnam Steel Industry Crisis Response Council," we are strengthening cooperation among the political sector, industry, local governments, and related organizations, laying a practical foundation for strengthening and protecting the resilience of local industries.

Going forward, Gwangyang City will continue to respond actively to the changing political and economic environment and will work to quickly stabilize the local economy and secure the competitiveness of local industries through close cooperation with the central government, Jeollanam-do, the political sector, businesses, and organizations.

- What is the outlook for the development of Gwangyang Port and its hinterland?

▲ Gwangyang Port is not only a logistics hub for Korea but also for Northeast Asia, and it is a key asset that will drive Gwangyang’s future. However, for Gwangyang Port to continue developing, it is essential to see a steady increase in cargo volume, and the expansion of supporting infrastructure must come first.

One of the most urgent issues at present is the channel depth. The depth of the main channel at Gwangyang Port is 16 meters, which is somewhat shallow for large vessels (15,000 TEU class or larger). As a result, ships can currently only enter and leave during high tide, waiting for tidal changes. Fortunately, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries also recognizes this need.

We plan to request a budget allocation (2.7 billion KRW) from the Ministry of Economy and Finance for the "Detailed Design for Dredging the Channel in Front of the Product Wharf" and the "Establishment of a Dredging Plan for the Container Wharf Channel" as part of the 2026 budget.

Accordingly, our city will continue to visit the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the National Assembly to actively request that this budget be included. If the work to deepen the channel to 17 meters proceeds smoothly, Gwangyang Port will be much better positioned for the era of large vessels in Northeast Asia.

At the same time, we are actively promoting the development of the port hinterland and attracting investment. One of Gwangyang Port’s greatest strengths is that manufacturing companies in the hinterland generate an overwhelming amount of cargo on their own. In fact, as of 2024, Gwangyang Port ranks first in the nation for import and export cargo volume. Last year, we further strengthened the foundation for attracting manufacturing companies for import and export logistics through the easing of regulations on the East Port, designation as a secondary battery Opportunity Development Zone, and attracting a total of 2.4 trillion KRW in investment from 14 companies. As a result, we expect further increases in cargo volume going forward.

We will continue to create cargo volume and revitalize the local economy through active investment attraction and the development of industrial complexes.

- What are Gwangyang City's plans for the secondary battery and hydrogen industries?

▲ Gwangyang City has identified the secondary battery and hydrogen industries as key strategic industries to lead the future, and is accelerating its transition into a new industry-centered city through these sectors.

The secondary battery industry began to gain momentum last June when the Donghoan, Sepung, and Yulchon 1 industrial complexes were designated as secondary battery Opportunity Development Zones. We are establishing a full-cycle value chain in this area, covering everything from the production of secondary battery materials to recycling, and are actively working to attract domestic and foreign companies related to secondary batteries and expand the industrial ecosystem. In addition to attracting anchor companies, we also plan to implement customized support projects for recycling and material companies in cooperation with specialized institutions.

In addition, the Gwangyang Advanced Materials Research Center, which is being promoted in cooperation with Suncheon National University, is scheduled to break ground in the first half of this year. As a follow-up project to the Opportunity Development Zone, we are also focusing on training specialized personnel needed for corporate activities through customized workforce development programs.

Furthermore, if we are designated as a National Advanced Strategic Industry and a specialized cluster for materials, parts, and equipment, Gwangyang will emerge as a unique "K-Battery Central City" at the highest level in Korea. Along with secondary batteries, the hydrogen industry is also a strategic industry that Gwangyang City is focusing on fostering in the mid- to long-term. Although there are many challenges in terms of economic feasibility at present, its potential as a clean energy source to lead the era of carbon neutrality is clear.

Gwangyang City is looking one step ahead in the era of carbon neutrality and is preparing step by step to become a leading hydrogen city when the full-fledged hydrogen era arrives. Our goal is to complete an ecosystem covering the entire cycle of hydrogen production, transportation, and utilization by 2028, and through this, Gwangyang will firmly establish itself as a leading city in clean energy based on hydrogen.

- What is the outlook for tourism in Gwangyang and what support measures are in place?

▲ Recently, Gwangyang Maehwa Village was selected as one of the "Top 100 Korean Tourist Attractions for 2025-2026" for the first time in 12 years, further elevating Gwangyang’s status as a representative tourist destination. As a result, interest is gradually increasing both domestically and internationally, and the pride of our citizens is also rising.

Tourism is an important growth engine that has positive cultural and social impacts on citizens, beyond simple economic effects. Based on its natural environment and historical assets, Gwangyang City is expanding stay-type tourism infrastructure by region, developing the city into a place where tourists can stay and enjoy themselves.

First, the Baegunsan area, in harmony with Gwangyang-eup, is being developed as a high-quality wellness travel destination where nature, history, culture, and art coexist, including Baegunsan Natural Recreation Forest, Jeonnam Provincial Art Museum, and Inseori Park. Starting with the opening of the Baegunsan Forest Museum last February, as the Camellia Garden and Forest Welfare Complex are completed in sequence, it will become an attractive forest healing tourism destination.

The Gubongsan area, known for its magnificent sunrise and sunset, is famous for its fantastic night views with Gwangyang Steelworks, Yi Sunshin Bridge, and Gwangyang Port. A forest campsite will open here in the first half of this year, and an experiential sculpture will be completed at the summit of Gubongsan in March next year. It is expected that more than 500,000 tourists will visit annually, and with the addition of the public Gwangyang Materials Science Museum and Imagination Playground, the tourism effect will be even greater.

The Seomjingang area is a space where history and emotion blend together. Emotional resources such as Baaldo Waterfront Park, Starry Bridge, and Yun Dongju’s preserved house, along with the Seomjingang Starlight Skywalk and monorail opened last year, are transforming the area into a dynamic leisure tourism destination. Next year, a camping site with 100 sites and caravan facilities will be established in the Baaldo area, which is expected to serve as a stepping stone for Gwangyang City to become a leading tourist destination in Korea.

Other major development projects currently underway are scheduled to be completed sequentially around 2027, and if each regional project proceeds smoothly, Gwangyang will establish itself as a central tourist destination in the southern coastal region of Namhaean Namjungwon.

- There are many concerns about the children's theme park. What is the current situation and future plan?

▲ I am aware that citizens have voiced various opinions regarding the construction of the children's theme park. We are listening to concerns about environmental damage, profitability, and sustainability. However, the background to this project is clear. Although Gwangyang is the youngest city in Jeollanam-do, it lacks sufficient play infrastructure for children. Therefore, as part of our efforts to make the city more child-friendly and to supplement our limited tourism resources, we are promoting the (tentatively named) Children's Theme Park project.

To briefly explain the progress so far, we established the basic plan in 2018, completed land compensation for the entire 600,000 square meter site in 2021, and one of the first-phase public projects, the "Gubongsan Forest Campsite," is scheduled to open in June this year. The Materials Science Museum, Imagination Playground, and integrated parking lot are scheduled to begin construction in November 2024, with completion targeted for next year.

At the summit of Gubongsan, construction of an experiential sculpture began early this year, and the Gubongsan Tourism Complex promoted by LF Networks is also scheduled to break ground this year. In addition, we are preparing basic plans for the construction of a cable car and alpine slide to connect each tourist site.

Most importantly, this area must grow beyond a simple amusement facility into a complex tourism hub where families can enjoy and stay together. This will create new jobs, revitalize the local economy, and enhance the city brand of Gwangyang. We will continue to humbly accept citizens’ concerns and prepare step by step, considering safety, the environment, and sustainability.

- Are there any policy pledges that are inevitably difficult to keep or projects that must be revised?

▲ At the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration, I made 115 pledges to citizens. However, as pledges are implemented in reality, it is sometimes inevitable to adjust them due to changing circumstances or overlap between projects. For example, the expansion of support for pregnant women’s health management and support for early life health management, which are similar in nature, are being integrated into a single project called "Health Management Support for Childbirth Families." Similarly, the creation of a main income crop complex and fostering full-time farmers of high-income crops (horticulture, fruit trees) are being combined under the direction of "Expanding the Production Base for High-Income Horticultural Crops" due to overlapping content.

Some projects that have become less necessary have been boldly discontinued. For example, the project to establish a school route from Onet and Songbo Apartments to Yonggang Middle School in Gwangyang-eup was discontinued because the current commuting conditions for students are good, there are no inconveniences, and the time required would not change significantly even with a new route.

There have also been cases where project periods or budgets were adjusted due to delays in consultations with central government ministries or administrative procedures. The "Gubongsan Comprehensive Tourism Complex" project had its completion date adjusted from 2027 to 2030 due to related administrative procedures. The "Gwangyang-eup Native Plant Garden" had its project period and budget increased as changes were made following the completion of the basic plan. In the case of attracting the Gwangyang Tax Office, the proposal for the approval of the tax office organization by the National Tax Service was not approved by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, so the period was extended by one year for reapplication next year.

After these adjustments, we are currently pursuing a total of 112 pledges, and as of the end of last year, the pledge implementation rate reached 74.6%. Of course, there is still a way to go, but I will meticulously manage things until the end of my term to keep my promises to citizens and achieve the goal of 100% implementation.

- Any final words for the citizens?

▲ With the Constitutional Court’s decision to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Sukyeol on the 4th, we are now at a new turning point. As I mentioned in my statement, what is needed now is to overcome conflict and move toward healing and integration. Even in difficult times, city administration must continue without wavering. Together with over 1,600 public officials, I will do my best in my position, cooperate with local organizations, and focus all administrative capabilities on protecting livelihoods and restoring the local economy. We will focus even more on ensuring the stability and trust that citizens can feel in their daily lives. Lastly, Gwangyang City and I will always be with you, the citizens.