Kang Gijeong: "A Prosperous Gwangju Begins Now"... Military Airport Relocation and Future Industries Accelerate

Mayor Kang Outlines Next Year's City Administration at Year-End Press Conference on the 23rd
Launch of Integrated Airport Future City Headquarters and Development of Former Site
Emphasis on Triangular Industrial Strategy: AI, Future Vehicles, and Semiconductors
Declaration to Transform Gwangju into a "Fun City" with Complex Shopping Malls and Urban Infrastructure

Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju, stated, "Next year marks the real beginning of a prosperous Gwangju," presenting his administrative vision centered on the relocation of the military airport, fostering future industries, and expanding urban infrastructure. He emphasized that, following the restoration of democracy after the 12·3 Martial Law, Gwangju has once again entered a phase of growth.

Kang Gi-jung, mayor of Gwangju, is presenting his administrative plan at the 2026 New Year's press conference held at Gwangju City Hall on the morning of the 23rd. Photo by Gwangju City

At the New Year's press conference and address held at Gwangju City Hall on the 23rd, Mayor Kang said, "During the night of martial law, Gwangju refused the demand to control City Hall and declared its commitment to defend the Constitution," adding, "For 122 days, Gwangju demonstrated its spirit and laid the foundation for the birth of a new democratic government." He continued, "With the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration, policies that Gwangju has led are now being adopted nationwide, marking a new turning point."

Mayor Kang assessed this year as a time when Gwangju resolved its long-standing challenges. He said, "We have untangled the complicated issue of relocating the military airport to Muan, which has been Gwangju's biggest concern and a decades-old challenge," and added, "Early next year, we will establish the 'Integrated Airport Future City Headquarters' through an organizational restructuring, and will launch full-scale projects to develop the former site of 2.48 million pyeong and the 110,000-pyeong Maruk-dong ammunition depot site into a Gwangju-style Silicon Valley."

He also mentioned achievements in urban infrastructure. Mayor Kang said, "We have opened the upper road of Phase 1 of Urban Railway Line 2," and added, "To support small business owners who faced difficulties during construction, we will implement recovery measures such as additional reimbursement on win-win cards, special guarantees, and support for new hiring costs." He also highlighted the increased frequency of the Honam Line KTX and the inclusion of substation upgrades in the national budget as major achievements.

For future growth strategies, he proposed fostering industries based on a triangular axis of artificial intelligence (AI), future vehicles, and semiconductors. Mayor Kang stated, "We will establish a national NPU-exclusive computing center with a budget of 1 trillion won and advance the national AI data center, while also proceeding without delay with the 600 billion won AX Demonstration Valley and the 2.5 trillion won AI Mobility New City projects." He also presented plans for autonomous driving demonstration projects and the creation of an ecosystem for certification and development of future vehicle parts.

Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju, is presenting his administrative plans at the 2026 New Year's press conference held at Gwangju City Hall on the morning of the 23rd. Photo by Song Bohyun

In the field of talent development, he mentioned the expansion of the AI Academy, preparations for the opening of an AI Gifted High School, and the establishment of the ARM School, a semiconductor design curriculum. Mayor Kang said, "We will create a structure in which the achievements of industrial growth spread across all nine major industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and beauty."

He also shared plans to transform Gwangju into a "fun city." Mayor Kang explained the progress of complex shopping mall projects, including the groundbreaking of The Hyundai Gwangju, the redevelopment of Gwangcheon Terminal, and the creation of Eodeungsan Starfield, saying, "Gwangju will change from a city people just pass through to a city with reasons to stay." He also presented plans for the development of Maruk and Shinyong neighborhood parks, the designation of Jungang Park as a national urban park, and a state-led preservation plan for 5·18 historic sites.

Mayor Kang said, "In a prosperous Gwangju, 'prosperity' means industries and jobs, while 'strength' refers to inclusive systems that support citizens' lives," adding, "Gwangju, which has always found a way through any crisis, will succeed again this time."