“Gwangyang Transformation Empathy Talk”... Seeks Small Changes in Residents’ Daily Lives

Focus on "Transformation of Living SOC" Under the Theme "If You Could Change Just One Thing in Gwangyang"

Gwangyang City, part of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, said on October 8 that Mayor Park Seonghyeon held the third “Gwangyang Transformation! Empathy Talk” on October 7 in the main conference room on the third floor of Gwangyang-eup Office. Under the theme “A More Comfortable Gwangyang Through Small Changes: If You Could Change Just One Thing,” residents shared their views on inconveniences they experience in daily life and ways to address them.

The Empathy Talk focused on the “Transformation of Living SOC,” one of the five major transformation strategies of the ninth popularly elected administration. Residents freely proposed policy ideas in areas closely connected to everyday life, including transportation and mobility, living conditions, resident services, and revitalization of the old downtown. Mayor Park continued the discussion by explaining the status of city administration and the conditions for implementing the proposals.

On the 7th, Gwangyang City held the third “Gwangyang Transformation! Empathy Talk” in the main conference room on the third floor of the Gwangyang-eup Office, where residents discussed ways to improve the city under the theme “If You Could Change Just One Thing in Gwangyang.” Courtesy of Gwangyang City.

First, on transportation, participants discussed installing a diagonal crosswalk and improving the traffic system in the Yonggang-ri area of Gwangyang-eup, where traffic has increased as residents move into apartment complexes; addressing mobility difficulties among older residents of Oegeum Village; and the shortage of taxis at certain times.

Regarding traffic issues in Yonggang-ri, Mayor Park said the city should consult with the police and other relevant agencies and comprehensively review ways to improve traffic flow, including installing a diagonal crosswalk and a roundabout. For Oegeum Village, he said he would visit the area to check whether the bus route could be adjusted and whether residents were eligible for support through the 100-won taxi program.

Residents also suggested making better use of existing facilities. They proposed expanding unmanned recycling collection bins to make it easier to sort and dispose of recyclables, and using privately run small libraries as self-study and community spaces so that young people could read and study close to home.

Mayor Park said the city should review the operating status and usage conditions of the relevant facilities overall and make more efficient use of them.

Revitalizing Gwangyang-eup’s old downtown and local businesses was another key topic. Residents proposed creating a space near Maeil Market where young people and students could spend time and enjoy culture and food, and linking local businesses with the area’s cultural and tourism resources. They also suggested making use of Jeomdong Village’s gold-mining heritage by connecting it with attractions that would draw visitors, rather than limiting efforts to building facilities.

On revitalizing the old downtown, Mayor Park said that expanding infrastructure such as roads and parking lots alone would have limited impact on bringing life to the area. He said the area also needed functions that would attract people and encourage them to stay, including cultural, educational, and medical services.

He added, “It is important to have people spend in Gwangyang the money they earn here.” He stressed that the city should create conditions that allow residents to live and spend locally, building a virtuous cycle in which income generated in the area leads to sales for small business owners and supports the local economy.

Other topics closely related to residents’ daily lives included resuming construction at the Gwangyang-eup Residents’ Autonomy Center, supporting university students attending schools in other regions, expanding in-home care services for older adults, and improving the operation of residents’ autonomy programs.

Mayor Park Seonghyeon said, “The Empathy Talk is not a one-way promotional event; it is an opportunity to listen to residents. I firmly believe that if we address the small inconveniences people experience in their daily lives one by one, those changes will add up and transform Gwangyang City. We will post residents’ suggestions on the city website and make sure to provide feedback.”

The Gwangyang Transformation Empathy Talk is a civic engagement program that brings residents and the mayor together over lunch to freely discuss everyday inconveniences, policy ideas, and city administration. It is held once a month, with topics selected for their close connection to residents’ daily lives.

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