Highest Proportion of Youth Population Among Gwangju Districts
'Humanities City' Brand with Humanities College and School
Focusing on Revitalizing Local Commercial Districts Under the New Administration
Taeck Lim, Mayor of Donggu District, Gwangju.
On June 26, Taeck Lim, Mayor of Donggu District, Gwangju, marked the third anniversary of the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration and stated, "Donggu is enhancing its unique urban brand value, as evidenced by achieving the highest grade (SA) for six consecutive years in the national evaluation of basic local government heads' pledge implementation and information disclosure."
Over the past six years, humanities policies developed together with residents have borne fruit, leading to the proclamation of the 'urban brand.' Notable achievements include positive changes in the Chungjang-ro commercial district, the operation of the smart tourism platform 'Gwangju Art Pass,' the successful establishment of the Hometown Love Donation Program and fund projects, and the promotion of local currency issuance.
The population of Donggu has been on the rise since the launch of the 7th administration, recovering to 100,000 in September 2020. With the current population increasing to about 106,000, the district reorganized its structure in January this year to respond systematically, establishing a dedicated Population and Youth Policy Division and is in the process of formulating and implementing the five-year (2023-2027) basic plan for Gwangju Donggu's population policy.
Among the five autonomous districts of Gwangju, Donggu has the highest proportion of youth population (27.65%). Accordingly, the district is focusing its efforts on policies supporting youth inflow and settlement, such as operating the Donggu Youth Center, providing youth entrepreneurship and management consulting, supporting interest payments for special guarantee loans for small business owners, and improving conditions for youth settlement and residency.
From the latter part of the 7th administration through the current 8th administration, the district has worked to build a 'residential-type cultural tourism city' where everyday life becomes tourism. Focusing on the 'three main tourism pillars of Donggu' (Mudeungsan National Park, National Asia Culture Center, and Jisan Amusement Park area), the district established a fountain of light and a musical fountain within the Culture Center area. In June last year, the 'Fortress of Light,' a media art recreation of the Gwangju Eupseong Fortress, opened near the Culture Center and Dongbu Police Station. In addition, 'Bitnaneun Aina-ra,' a 500-pyeong children's media complex in the second section of the Geumnam-ro underground shopping center, is set to be completed and officially opened in July.
The concept of a 'humanities city' has become a symbol of Donggu's unique urban competitiveness. Based on the results accumulated with residents over the past six years, the district proclaimed 'Humanities City Gwangju Donggu' as its urban brand in July last year. Notable achievements include the 'Donggu Humanities College' and 'Book-Reading Donggu' projects, which have continued for seven years, the 'Me, You, Us, Thought Collection Group' humanities program for youth, and the 'Writing Autobiographies for Seniors' project for the elderly. Starting this year, the district is focusing on revitalizing 'life-friendly small libraries' that support residents' humanities activities within the community.
Additionally, since its opening in January 2022, the 'Donggu Humanities School' has recorded over 37,000 cumulative visitors. 'The House of Poet Moon Byunglan' in Jisan-dong, which operates poetry clubs and the 'Gwangju Children's Poet School' summer and winter vacation programs for residents, is serving as a poetry salon. The district library 'Chaekjeongwon,' which opened in December 2023, is also noteworthy. The library has strengthened resident participation programs, including book curation exhibitions for all generations, author lectures, reading discussions, quarterly book clubs linked to the 'Book of the Year,' and citizen reading events.
The district plans to focus on 'restoring livelihoods' and 'revitalizing local commercial districts' following the inauguration of President Jaemyung Lee. Given the absence of large industrial complexes, small business owners and self-employed individuals are the 'core of the local economy,' making local economic revitalization an urgent priority. Accordingly, the district plans to collaborate with other autonomous districts and Gwangju City to continue offering the 'Gwangju Sangsaeng Card special discount benefits,' which were implemented earlier this year, during the upcoming Chuseok holiday period. The ordinance for issuing local currency (local love gift certificates) has also been completed, and the district will proceed with issuance after reviewing the timing and scale.
The district is also accelerating projects to build a new industrial ecosystem. The representative 'AI-based industrial ecosystem development project' has completed its first and second phases, and the third phase, 'AI Startup Development Based on Healthcare Big Data Platform,' is being pursued through 2026. In connection with this, the district has purchased a building in the Geumnam-ro 4-ga area to establish the 'AI Healthcare Startup Complex Center.' This facility will house AI startup companies and public healthcare service platforms previously located in the Donggu Startup Support Center, and will be used as a multifunctional complex space.
Mayor Taeck Lim stated, "With the determination that 'hope lies within the residents,' I will continue to answer residents' questions in the second half of the 8th administration and make further progress toward a 'hopeful city with a promising future.' I will strive to ensure that Donggu is not seen as a declining old downtown, but as a representative humanities city of Korea where people want to live, stay, and come together."
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