Gwangju Mayor Kang Kijeong Vows Full Commitment to Securing Public-Led 'Sovereign AI'

Proposal for Supplementary Budget at City Council Signals Green Light for 'AI-Centered City'
Efforts Underway to Attract National AI Computing Center and Exempt AX Demonstration Valley from Preliminary Feasibility Study

Gwangju Mayor Kang Kijeong attended the 333rd extraordinary session plenary meeting held on the morning of the 23rd at the city council main chamber and gave a proposal explanation on the first supplementary budget for 2025 and the fund operation change plan. Provided by Gwangju City

On the 23rd, Gwangju Mayor Kang Kijeong stated, "The public-led National AI Computing Center, a campaign pledge by President Lee Jaemyung, is progressing smoothly, and the exemption from the preliminary feasibility study for the AX Demonstration Valley project is also underway." He emphasized, "Based on these developments, Gwangju will take the lead not only in the 'manufacturing AI industry' but also in securing Korea's 'sovereign AI.'"

During his proposal explanation for the first supplementary budget for 2025 and the fund operation change plan at the Gwangju City Council on this day, Mayor Kang said, "With the highest voter turnout in the country, Gwangju played a leading role in the birth of the Lee Jaemyung administration, and we are now ready to soar together with the Lee Jaemyung government. We will further accelerate the realization of 'Gwangju as an AI-centered city' in cooperation with the Lee Jaemyung administration."

Mayor Kang noted, "Since taking the lead in AI in 2018, Gwangju has established and operated the National AI Data Center and the AI Convergence Complex, and has prepared for the future by building infrastructure, supporting businesses, and nurturing talent." He added, "As a result of these preparations and efforts, the initiative to make Gwangju an AI-centered city is showing clear signs of success."

In particular, he explained, "Unlike the privately-led AI Data Center promoted in Ulsan, we are responding swiftly and preparing diligently to seize opportunities such as attracting the public-led National AI Computing Center, a campaign pledge by President Lee Jaemyung, and securing exemption from the preliminary feasibility study for the AX Demonstration Valley project, which is part of the second phase of the AI initiative."

Mayor Kang emphasized, "Public officials are constantly on alert and never stop making creative attempts to respond to new and unfamiliar challenges every day." He added, "I am confident that a golden opportunity is coming to Gwangju from the Lee Jaemyung administration. If we join forces in a direction that benefits Gwangju, we can overcome crises and seize new opportunities."

Meanwhile, the city has allocated a total of 480.7 billion won for the first supplementary budget for 2025 and submitted it to the city council on the 12th. The so-called 'pinpoint budget' has been allocated to urgent areas such as the Sangsaeng Card discount program (13.4 billion won), support for computing resources in the AI Convergence Complex (980 million won), and other priorities related to the livelihood economy and future investments. Through this, the city plans to further accelerate the implementation of municipal policies in the second half of this year.