Mayor Park Byungkyu: "Gwangsan District Will See the Most Change if Gwangju and South Jeolla Are Integrated"

Highlighting Strategic Location and Transportation Network
Proposing Potential as an Industrial Execution Hub

Park Byungkyu, Mayor of Gwangsan District in Gwangju, stated on the 7th, "If the administrative integration of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province is realized, Gwangsan District could become the region experiencing the most significant changes."

At a press conference held at the Gwangsan District Office on the same day, Mayor Park said, "Gwangsan District is located at the point where Gwangju and the western part of South Jeolla Province meet," adding, "If integration becomes a reality, there is a high possibility that Gwangsan will serve as a geographic and functional center."

Park Byungkyu, Mayor of Gwangsan District, held a New Year's press conference on the 7th in the conference room on the 2nd floor of the district office, announcing the direction of district administration for the new year. Provided by Gwangsan District

He explained, "Gwangsan District has a structure where the airport, railways, highways, and industrial complexes are all concentrated in one area," and added, "Given its role as a gateway connecting the western part of South Jeolla Province and downtown Gwangju, it could become a key axis for metropolitan transportation and industrial flows."

Regarding the restructuring of the industrial landscape, he said, "Gwangju could take charge of policy, planning, and research functions, while South Jeolla Province could be responsible for land, energy, and resources," adding, "Gwangsan District has the potential to serve as an execution base that connects these two pillars, enabling manufacturing, demonstration, and industrial expansion."

He also commented on the significance of administrative integration. Mayor Park stated, "The integration of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province is not simply about merging administrative districts. It is part of a broader trend to strengthen local autonomy by decentralizing authority and finances concentrated in the central government," adding, "It could also become a step in transforming the way the nation is governed."

He further noted, "There have been several discussions about the integration of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province in the past, but now, the institutional and political conditions are more mature than before," and added, "Gwangsan District will also actively gather citizens' opinions to prepare for these changes and design the region's mid- to long-term direction."