Mayor Park Kwan-yeol: "From a Support City for National Strategic Industries to a Leading City of Mega Projects"

Gwangju City Holds the 1st Direct Gwangju Policy Discussion
Discusses Response Strategies to the Government's Three Mega-Projects
Reviews Plans for a 30,000-Household AI Smart City and Attraction of AI Data Centers
Strict Caution Issued over Official Position Not Reflected in Yongin Semiconductor Water Supply Project

Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province (led by Mayor Park Kwan-yeol) has launched efforts to develop strategies that turn the regional burdens arising from the integrated water supply project for the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex into opportunities for attracting high-tech industries and fostering urban growth.

Gwangju Mayor Kwan-Yeol Park held the "1st Direct Gwangju Municipal Government Discussion" at the City Hall Vision Hall on the 5th, discussing strategies to respond to the government's three major mega projects and ways to promote regional cooperation in relation to the integrated water supply project for the Yongin semiconductor national industrial complex. Provided by Gwangju City

According to the city on the 6th, Gwangju held the "1st Direct Gwangju Policy Discussion" at the City Hall Vision Hall on the 5th, discussing response strategies to the government's three major mega-projects, as well as measures for regional co-prosperity related to the integrated water supply project for the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex.

This discussion was organized to move away from report-centered meetings by encouraging open debates about new initiatives and policy ideas from each department, aiming to identify actionable policies.

The main agenda was the integrated water supply project for the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex. Participants focused their discussions on ways to transform the local impacts that Gwangju City would bear during the project’s implementation into future growth drivers.

Gwangju City agreed to actively cooperate for the success of the national advanced strategic industries but emphasized that the government should provide corresponding support, citing the inconvenience to residents and multiple overlapping regulations that have persisted for a long time.

As part of its development strategy in connection with the government's three mega-projects, the city is also reviewing several initiatives: ▲ the creation of an AI smart city capable of accommodating 30,000 households, ▲ the establishment of a 300,000 square meter small yet robust national industrial complex supporting semiconductors and advanced industries, and ▲ the attraction of AI and Physical AI Innovation Cooperation Complexes and AI data centers.

In addition, the city will pursue measures to provide a statutory basis for supporting regions where industrial infrastructure is to be installed or routed, such as through amendments to the Special Act on Mega Industrial Complexes and the enforcement ordinance of the Semiconductor Special Act. Gwangju also plans to propose forming a win-win agreement involving the government and beneficiary companies, aiming to establish a foundation for Gwangju to become a hub city for high-tech industries rather than merely a "transit area" for national mega-projects.

The discussion also addressed organizational restructuring to drive the core policies of the ninth popularly-elected mayoral administration. Opinions were shared on realizing citizen-centered direct administration, establishing interdepartmental cooperation systems, and adjusting organizational management in response to the advent of the AI era. These views will be incorporated into upcoming restructuring studies and organizational management.

Mayor Park Kwan-yeol said, "Now, as the government is redesigning the nation's future, it is exactly the time for Gwangju City to prepare for its own future. We should not just wait for government policies; instead, we must be a city that anticipates, proposes, and takes the initiative first."

He added, "Gwangju should move beyond being a support city for national strategic industries and become a city that co-creates major mega-projects. We will focus our administrative capacity on fostering interdepartmental cooperation and proactive policy development so that state policies can be linked to Gwangju’s growth strategy."

When Gwangju Mayor Kwan-Yeol Park was president-elect, he held a one-person indefinite protest regarding the integrated water supply project for the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor Cooperation Complex, stating that "the unilateral sacrifice of Gwangju City should not be forced." Photo courtesy of Gwangju City

Gwangju City Responds to Yongin Semiconductor Integrated Water Supply Project by Strengthening Discipline Among Public Officials... Strict Caution Issued

Meanwhile, Gwangju City has confirmed that its official stance was not sufficiently reflected during consultations with relevant agencies concerning the integrated water supply project for the Yongin Semiconductor Industrial Complex, and has issued a "strict caution" to reinforce discipline among public officials.

Since the launch of the ninth popularly-elected administration, Gwangju City has consistently maintained that the integrated water supply project for the Yongin Semiconductor Industrial Complex should not proceed at the cost of unilateral sacrifices from Gwangju citizens. Mayor Park Kwan-yeol has continued to demand substantial regional co-prosperity measures from the government and Samsung Electronics through one-person protests in front of Samsung Electronics and engagement with the media.

To this end, the city has operated a "Yongin Semiconductor Industrial Complex Integrated Water Supply Response Task Force (TF)" and has repeatedly issued special instructions that all related permits and matters for cooperation with relevant agencies must undergo prior consultation.

However, it has recently been confirmed that in consultations with agencies such as the Han River Basin Environmental Office and Gyeonggi Province, the city's policy direction and official stance were not fully reflected.

Given that this was the first case of its kind, and after a comprehensive consideration of factors including intent and how the situation arose, the city opted for a "strict caution" rather than disciplinary action or formal reprimand. Nevertheless, it decided that if similar incidents reoccur, responsibilities will be strictly enforced according to relevant regulations.

Going forward, Gwangju City plans to further strengthen its internal reporting system and consultation procedures with relevant agencies to ensure that the mayor’s policy direction and the city’s official stance are not omitted during external negotiations. The city also emphasized that, in matters related to the Yongin Semiconductor Complex, it will prioritize protecting citizens’ rights and regional co-prosperity above all else.

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