Gwangyang City Holds First Citizen Briefing of 9th Administration... Shares Future Vision for Gwangyang

Presenting Emergency Economic Measures and Five Key Transformation Strategies

Strengthening Commitment to a Leap Forward Together with Citizens

Gwangyang City, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, announced that on July 15, it held the "Gwangyang Great Transformation Future Vision and Emergency Economy Citizen Report" at Baegun Art Hall of POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks, attended by over 800 citizens, members of the economy and industry sectors, officials from institutions and social organizations. At the event, the city government shared the fiscal and economic conditions currently faced by Gwangyang, the city’s response strategies, and the future vision under the 9th civilian administration with citizens.

This was the first such briefing session held since the launch of the 9th civilian government, and Mayor Park Seonghyun of Gwangyang City personally led the presentation.

Mayor Park Seonghyun of Gwangyang is giving a briefing at the 'Gwangyang Great Transformation Future Vision and Emergency Economy Citizen Report Meeting,' the first event held since the launch of the 9th Minseon administration. Photo by Gwangyang City

The city highlighted the growing uncertainties facing the local economy, pointing to increased rigidity in local finances due to declining revenue and rising mandatory expenditures, structural changes in the steel industry, sluggish domestic demand, and difficulties faced by small business owners. The city also emphasized the necessity of transforming municipal operations to keep pace with these changing circumstances.

To address these challenges, Gwangyang City declared its principle of boldly streamlining customary and inefficient expenditures and removing redundant or overlapping projects to enhance fiscal efficiency. At the same time, the city committed to unwavering implementation in sectors directly tied to citizens’ daily lives—such as public safety, essential welfare, and protections for vulnerable populations.

The city also presented the "Five Key Strategies for the Gwangyang Great Transformation," focusing on: the economy, industry, administration, social overhead capital (SOC) for daily life, and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) urban development. Alongside this, the city introduced implementation plans to secure future growth engines and strengthen vital urban competitiveness.

Furthermore, among the mayor's top priorities for the first 100 days in office are securing national projects, achieving fiscal normalization, pursuing citizen-driven policies, innovating public institutions, and attracting investment. The city expressed its commitment to boost execution capability from the beginning of the 9th civilian administration and produce tangible results that citizens can directly experience.

Additionally, the city unveiled its future vision of revitalizing the local economy through fiscal normalization and investment attraction, and advancing as a leading economic hub of the South Coast region. This vision includes establishing a sustainable global industrial and residential city—where high-tech materials, hydrogen, and AI industries underlie the harmony of jobs, housing, education, and culture.

Mayor Park Seonghyun stated, "While both the fiscal and economic environments of Gwangyang are challenging, we will not turn away from these crises but will instead overcome them head-on together with our citizens. We will implement robust fiscal innovation throughout the administration, and the resources saved will be focused on economic recovery, securing future growth engines, and improving our citizens’ quality of life."

He added, "All policies under the 9th civilian administration will focus on transforming citizens’ lives and enhancing Gwangyang’s future competitiveness. Together with our citizens, we will ensure the Gwangyang Great Transformation is realized and create a new future for Gwangyang as Korea's industrial capital."

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