[2022 New Year's Address] Kim Byeongnae, Mayor of Gwangju Nam-gu, "Narrowing the Gap Between New and Old Downtowns Through Life SOC Projects"

Dear 220,000 residents of the district!

The hopeful new year of Im-in-nyeon 2022 has dawned. I wish that happiness fills every household of our residents in the new year.

Last year was a year of relentless efforts to overcome multiple COVID-19 crises and adapt to the shift toward a contactless society. I extend my deepest gratitude and respect to all residents who united in the fight against the worst global crisis.

The crisis is not over yet. Although the spread of COVID-19, which seemed close to ending, has returned, I believe that if each resident continues to unite, we can overcome this difficult moment.

The transition to a contactless society has become an irreversible trend of the times, and the new year is a very important period to implement new strategies for the post-COVID era. In this era of great transformation brought by COVID-19, we will thoroughly prepare for the post-COVID era while operating quarantine and medical systems without gaps to fully restore daily life.

In the year of Im-in-nyeon, we will ensure that the projects we have pursued bear fruit and create a city with competitiveness in various fields so that all residents can enjoy a better life.

In particular, by making Baegun Square and the old downtown the central axis of Nam-gu’s development, we will build living SOC infrastructure for a vibrant and dignified living space and a life where happiness is evenly shared, and create healing spaces where nature and culture harmonize to make Nam-gu a good place to live “together.”

To face this era of great transformation, a new mindset is required. With new hope and a new vision, we will prepare for Nam-gu’s future so that daily life regains vitality and moves toward a bright future, practicing hosiubo (虎視牛步): “to observe things sharply and fearfully like a tiger and act cautiously like an ox,” emphasizing prudence in all matters.

By creating new spaces and injecting vitality into the city, the old downtown will become the “central axis of Nam-gu’s development.” In line with the national balanced development policy, we will narrow the gap between the old and new downtowns through urban regeneration remodeling, living SOC projects, and Nam-gu style New Deal projects, creating a Nam-gu where prosperity is shared evenly.

Currently, Nam-gu is implementing various projects utilizing the potential and characteristics of the old downtown. Four types of urban regeneration projects are underway in Baegun Square, Yangnim-dong, Sajik-dong, and Bangnim 2-dong areas, along with SOC projects to build living and cultural infrastructure.

First, with the 87.9 billion KRW Baegun Square Urban Regeneration New Deal project, we will construct an aerial walkway connecting Green Road to Green Road, operate a street food zone that will serve as a cultural and economic activation hub, and hold media facade performances at the Nam-gu Office building, making Baegun Square the center of urban vitality.

Alongside this, we will revitalize the cultural tourism industry of the old downtown through residential environment improvements such as the Yangnim-dong Youth Creation Center and cultural hub spaces, Sajik-dong Seonbigol vitality space and time post office, Bangnim 2-dong senior startup center and themed streets, home repair support, and safe alley maintenance. For balanced development between the old and new downtowns, we will create libraries, parking lots, and sports and cultural spaces throughout the villages through living SOC projects so residents can enjoy a dignified life.

In 2020 and 2021, we successfully completed living SOC projects including Hyochon Cultural Complex Community Center, Family Love Sharing Center, Bangnim and Sajik Living Culture Centers, Bongseon 2-dong Administrative Complex Center, Jinwol Complex Sports Ground, and residential parking lots. In 2022, we will newly establish Nam-gu National Sports Center and Administrative Complex Centers in Hyodeok-dong and Songam-dong to eliminate cultural disparities in the region.

We will create a more vibrant economic city by generating future growth engines through renewable energy and immersive content technology.

When the economy stops, residents’ lives and regional development also come to a halt. We will prepare for a new leap forward through changes and innovations that transform residents’ lives, and enhance Nam-gu’s competitiveness by fostering policies to recover the economy shattered by COVID-19 and nurturing future growth industries.

Energy-related research institutes and companies are gathering in the 440,000-pyeong Energy Valley general industrial complex, designated as the Gwangju Free Economic Zone and Energy Industry Convergence Complex, and Energy Valley will become the mecca of future innovative growth.

Along with this, the Songam-dong industrial complex, where the Gwangju Immersive Content Cube is being established, will be transformed into a new industrial complex centered on cultural content, making Nam-gu a place overflowing with jobs based on energy and cultural industries.

To quickly recover the livelihood economy facing crisis and help it rise again, we will create various livelihood jobs for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, youth, and disabled, support special guarantees for small business owners and self-employed, designate alley-type shopping districts, foster Mudeung and Bongseon cultural tourism markets, and build online platforms so that alley markets can respond to the untact consumption culture.

Leading the Green New Deal, we will create an eco-friendly healing Nam-gu. We will solve the problems our region faces and build a sustainable city centered on people and the environment.

The climate crisis has become a social issue we must solve together, not a distant future problem but an immediate one. The important thing is how well we respond. Our district has proactively promoted eco-friendly urban policies preparing for the future ahead of others and will continue to expand these efforts.

To create a “2030 Green Energy Self-Reliant City,” we are continuously promoting renewable energy convergence support projects and conducting a microgrid demonstration technology development support project in Sin-Hyochon Village, Songam-dong. Along with this, we will expand environmentally friendly renewable energy distribution projects such as citizen solar power plant construction support to lead the creation of a low-carbon green city.

We also plan to create open green spaces. We will create healthy resting places around living areas such as Gujeolcho Themed Park in Wolsan-dong, Hyochon-ro Green Walkway, and Geumdangsan Trail, and provide healing spaces linked to Deoknam Village Family Healing Village and Hyangdeungje Health Nuri Trail so residents can enjoy healthy and leisurely lives.

We will take responsibility for residents’ safety through proactive prevention and response. For the right to safety that everyone should enjoy without discrimination, we will prioritize people and devote all efforts to COVID-19 quarantine and infectious disease response. We will respond swiftly to emergencies with living quarantine and meticulous public medical services such as COVID-19 vaccination promotion, screening clinics, home treatment teams, and emergency quarantine situation teams to protect residents’ lives.

The prevention-centered proactive safety management system will also be strengthened. We plan to prevent flood damage by improving sewage facilities in the habitual flooding area of Chilseok-dong and drainage channels in Dodeok Village, and thoroughly conduct safety inspections and construction supervision of aging buildings by establishing a regional building safety center.

Additionally, a smart sewage odor management system and village public parking lots will be created in the old downtown, the high-voltage transmission tower inside the multipurpose gymnasium will be relocated, Jinwol IC entrance and exit roads improved, and roads connecting the old Haitai Mart in Jinwol-dong and Daehwa Apartments in Bongseon-dong will be developed to create a pleasant and safe living environment.

By building infrastructure where residents can enjoy, experience, and relax, we will raise the quality of life and create a city where culture is part of daily life. We will plan differentiated local content unique to Nam-gu and commercialize regional resources such as culture, history, and environment to make it a tourist city where people gather and stay.

We will operate the Penguin Village Base Art Travel Center in Yangnim-dong to revitalize art tourism, and steadily promote the construction of Hyochon Cultural Complex Community Center, Bangnim and Sajik Living Culture Centers, and small libraries in Bongseon 2-dong and the Senior Welfare Center to provide educational and cultural complex spaces for all to enjoy.

In the era of digital transformation, we will further solidify the Better Culture and Education Special Zone project to nurture talents who will lead the future society, realize universal educational welfare through sustainable youth job creation, housing and employment support, entrance preparation funds for elementary and secondary school freshmen, youth growth activities, and career education support.

Moreover, projects for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation to foster unification awareness will be promoted. In Gwangju, where the 2025 World Archery Championships will be held, we will continuously strive for various cultural exchanges such as forming a unified North-South archery team and researching and developing unification kimchi, and conduct unique resident-participatory unification awareness projects such as unification train operation and production of separated family storybooks. Along with this, we will build living sports facilities throughout Nam-gu to create vibrant and dignified living spaces.

The long-awaited Jinwol Complex Sports Ground construction will be completed by early this year, and with the establishment of the Bandabi Gymnasium inclusive of both disabled and non-disabled, Seungchon Park Golf Course, and Nam-gu National Sports Center, all Nam-gu residents will be able to enjoy diverse sports activities.

We will strengthen an inclusive welfare system that everyone can enjoy. Responding to low birthrate, aging, and multicultural society, we will establish a more detailed welfare network encompassing generations and classes. We will increase the number of national and public daycare centers and gradually expand public childcare usage to create a safe childcare environment.

We will complete the Family Love Sharing Center, a core space for family policies, expand the Together Care Center, and operate shelters for abused children to strengthen the public protection system and eliminate blind spots in care.

Comprehensive welfare services for vulnerable groups will also be provided. We will further activate the Happy Welfare 7979 Center and the Visiting 7979 Volunteer Group, and strive to strengthen customized housing welfare and remodeling support for Hope Housing.

Along with this, we will support tailored care services for the elderly living alone and provide over 6,000 jobs to support a healthy and dignified old age, and create an environment for coexistence by supporting media empathy TV, cultural and artistic activities, and expanding social participation of the disabled.

The future of Nam-gu lies in villages created by residents. We will revitalize community projects that improve residents’ quality of life and prepare for Nam-gu’s future by implementing policies needed by residents and policies that respond to rapid social changes.

To realize true local autonomy centered on residents in the “era of decentralization,” we will fully operate the Local Decentralization Council and further activate resident councils, resident academies, and resident participation budgeting systems to expand opportunities for direct resident participation.

Along with this, through Civil Petition Field Days, resident decision-making systems, and online communication, we will actively promote regional innovation projects to solve problems faced by our region and create fences that connect residents to residents and villages to villages.

Dear respected and beloved residents!

If you do not give up, opportunities will surely come. With the efforts and will of all of us, we can overcome this crisis.

Though we are momentarily paused, we will rise again and enhance the quality of life and urban competitiveness through policies that change our lives such as the old downtown urban regeneration New Deal project, living SOC projects, and Nam-gu style New Deal projects.

With proactive administration leading new changes, we will create a safe and prosperous city, “a vibrant economic city, a happy welfare Nam-gu.”

I hope that this year, your homes will be filled with health and happiness and that all your wishes come true. Happy New Year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.