"Unified Call for Breaking Away from Central Dependence, Adopting Renewable Energy, and Attracting the Ministry of Climate and Energy"

Gwangju Jeonnam Future Vision Roundtable Raises Key Issues on New Administration's National Tasks and Regional Response
Emphasis on Gwangju and Jeonnam Charting Their Own Future as Independent Managers
Paradigm Shift Highlighted; Strong Push to Attract New Ministry of Climate and Energy
Active Support for AI Startups and Urgent Call for Honam Metropolitan Railway Connecting Suncheon, Gwangju, and Mokpo

Gwangju Jeonnam Future Vision held a roundtable discussion on the afternoon of the 27th at the Prima Art Hall in Cheomdan 2 District, Buk-gu, Gwangju, under the theme "New Government's National Tasks and Gwangju Jeonnam's Response." Photo by Gwangju Jeonnam Future Vision

During the Lee Jaemyung administration, there have been calls for Gwangju and Jeonnam to break away from their longstanding dependence on the central government and instead chart and pioneer their own future as independent managers. Additionally, it was emphasized that the active adoption of renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and solar power, as well as the urgent expansion of the Jeonnam region's power grid, are necessary. The establishment of a new Ministry of Climate and Energy was also highlighted as essential.

These arguments were presented at a roundtable discussion held on the afternoon of the 27th at the Prima Art Hall in Cheomdan 2 District, Buk-gu, Gwangju, hosted by Gwangju Jeonnam Future Vision, under the theme "National Tasks of the Lee Jaemyung Administration and Gwangju Jeonnam's Response."

The roundtable was organized to critically evaluate the national tasks of the Lee Jaemyung administration and its promises to Gwangju and Jeonnam, and to explore directions for future development. The panelists addressed four key topics relevant to the Gwangju and Jeonnam region: "Balanced Regional Development and Decentralization" (Minwon Lee, Professor Emeritus at Gwangju National University), "Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Promotion" (Soonhyung Lee, Professor at Dongshin University), "Green AI and Advanced Industry Development" (Jaeseok Lee, Professor Emeritus at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology), and "Expansion of Gwangju Jeonnam Metropolitan Transportation Network" (Jinsang Cho, Professor Emeritus at Dongshin University).

First, Minwon Lee, former Chairperson of the National Committee for Balanced Development and Professor Emeritus at Gwangju National University, stated in his presentation, "Gwangju and Jeonnam can no longer rely on the policy goodwill of the central government. Past administrations have made countless promises in the name of balanced national development." He emphasized, "Now, Gwangju and Jeonnam must design and pioneer their own future as independent managers, and adopt strategies to proactively engage with both the central government and the global community," highlighting the need for a major paradigm shift in regional development.

Soonhyung Lee argued, "In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, it is necessary to actively introduce abundant renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and solar power, expand the installation of energy storage systems (ESS), and urgently resolve the issue of connecting the Jeonnam region to the power grid." He added, "We must foster locally based industries utilizing abundant renewable energy, designate an RE100 industrial complex in Jeonnam and a national data center in Gwangju, and thereby drive the creation of high-quality jobs and regional growth." He particularly stressed the necessity of attracting the new Ministry of Climate and Energy, which is to be established as the government’s central body for national climate and energy policy, as promised by the President.

Jaeseok Lee said, "The recent confirmation of the AI-X (Artificial Intelligence Transformation) Demonstration Valley project, the second phase of Gwangju's AI initiative (2026-2030, with a budget of 600 billion won), will serve as a catalyst for realizing Gwangju as an AI demonstration city and advancing Korea as a global AI powerhouse." He insisted, "As a leading AI city, Gwangju should actively support AI startup companies and expand incentives such as providing factory sites and tax reductions to attract businesses." He also emphasized that "to overcome the crises of low birth rates, population aging, and regional extinction, and to achieve mutual growth, Gwangju and Jeonnam must jointly attract data centers and establish systems for promoting and sharing renewable energy." In particular, he pointed out that, although Gwangju was once known as a leading city in the AI industry, the current administration’s consistent claims of balanced regional growth and "special compensation for special sacrifice" are being undermined by the exclusion of Gwangju-along with Daegu, Gyeongnam, and Jeonbuk-from the list of four major AI industry innovation hub regions exempt from preliminary feasibility studies.

Jinsang Cho further emphasized, "The expansion of the Honam region’s metropolitan transportation network is absolutely necessary as the fundamental infrastructure for the innovation and development of Gwangju and Jeonnam." He stressed, "All areas of Gwangju and Jeonnam, especially Suncheon, Gwangju, and Mokpo, must be connected by metropolitan rail so that travel between these cities can be completed in a short amount of time."

During the three-hour roundtable, there were heated debates on the new administration’s national tasks and its promises to Gwangju and Jeonnam, particularly regarding the capital region-centered unipolar system, low birth rates, population aging, population decline, and the risk of regional extinction.