Soohoon Kang of Gwangju City Council: "Restoring the Gwangjucheon Is a Historical Mission"

5-Minute Free Speech: "A Historical Task, Not a Choice"
"Transition to an Ecological City and Establish an Innovative Urban Strategy"

Soohoon Kang, Gwangju City Councilor.

Soohoon Kang, a member of the Gwangju City Council (Democratic Party, Seo-gu District 1), emphasized the urgency and importance of restoring the Gwangjucheon during the "5-Minute Free Speech" session at the 6th plenary meeting of the 334th extraordinary session held on July 18, 2025.

Kang stated, "The restoration of the Gwangjucheon is not merely an option but a historical task that must be fulfilled," and pointed out, "Discussions that began during the 7th popularly elected administration have been stalled for ten years."

He further raised concerns by noting, "While urban stream ecological restoration projects are actively underway across the country, only Gwangju remains stagnant." He went on to explain that restoring the Gwangjucheon is an innovative urban strategy that can organically connect the resolution of chronic flooding issues around the Taepyeonggyo area near Yangdong Market, as well as ecological, cultural, and urban regeneration efforts.

He emphasized, "To implement these policies, it is necessary to establish a new basic river plan, improve the sewage system, and devise measures to secure national funding." He then urged the formation of a task force at the Gwangju city level and the establishment of a concrete action plan.

Kang added, "The Lee Jaemyung administration, which was born out of the aspirations of the citizens of Gwangju, should include the restoration of the Gwangjucheon as a national policy task so that we can reclaim a river that embodies both the history and the future of Gwangju."