Kim Hyunseong Nominated as Gwangju Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy

Digital Economy Expert Expected to Revitalize Local Economies
Sung Hyun Park Appointed as AI Chief Policy Advisor
Myunghwan Na Named as Big Data Chief Policy Advisor
Beommo Yoon Recommended as CEO Candidate for Gwangju Biennale

(Photo from left) Gwangju City Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy nominee, Sung Hyun Park AI Chief Policy Advisor, Myunghwan Na Big Data Chief Policy Advisor, Beommo Yoon Gwangju Biennale CEO candidate.

On July 3, Gwangju City announced the nomination of Kim Hyunseong (53), CEO of the Gwangju Economic Promotion and Win-Win Job Foundation, as Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy.

Kim is a digital economy expert who previously served as Digital Advisor to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Head of the Small Business Digital Division at the Korea Small Business Distribution Center. He is recognized as the right person to invigorate the local economy, based on his extensive experience spanning small businesses and the distribution sector.

In particular, as CEO of the Gwangju Economic Promotion and Win-Win Job Foundation, Kim led the activation of a public delivery app exclusively for small businesses and spearheaded digital transformation projects for small merchants through the "Baedal Minjok Declaration of Independence."

The city expects Kim to actively promote support for small businesses and strategies for local economic recovery, in line with the city's policies for revitalizing neighborhood economies. These include allowing nighttime parking on roads near local shopping districts and one-to-one matching support between traditional markets and public institutions.

Originally from Damyang, Jeollanam-do, Kim graduated from Songwon High School and Chung-Ang University with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. He currently serves as an advisor to the Economic Division 2 of the National Policy Planning Committee, participating in the formulation of national policy tasks and policy direction for the Lee Jaemyung administration. He is also known as a close aide to Prime Minister Kim Minseok, having worked together as Deputy Director of the Institute for Democracy when Kim was its director.

In addition, Kim has served as Chair of the Operations Committee at the Institute for Livelihood Economy, establishing a strong policy network. He is expected to enhance Gwangju City's competitiveness by expanding cooperation with the central government and related agencies. Gwangju City plans to appoint Kim after conducting qualification reviews and background checks.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Mayor Kang Gijung appointed chief policy advisors for AI and Big Data and also recommended a candidate for CEO of the Gwangju Biennale.

Sung Hyun Park, CEO of Rebellion, was appointed as AI Chief Policy Advisor. He has contributed to the realization of Korea's "Sovereign AI" by leading the country's only AI semiconductor unicorn startup and pioneering the development of the first Korean AI semiconductor.

Myunghwan Na, a professor at Chonnam National University, was appointed as Big Data Chief Policy Advisor. As an authority in the field, he is expected to help integrate big data technology with local industries such as healthcare and food.

Beommo Yoon, former director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, was recommended as CEO candidate for the Gwangju Biennale. He is considered the right person to embody both the identity and future direction of the Gwangju Biennale, having served as a special exhibition curator at its founding in 1995 and as exhibition director for a special exhibition in 2014.