Jeonnam-Gwangju Public Institutions to Pursue Service Innovation by 2030

Four priorities include redefining institutional roles and functions and improving work practices through AI
Public institution consolidation also picks up pace... Seven draft ordinances await council review

Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City will reorganize the roles and functions of public institutions by 2030 and improve work practices by using artificial intelligence (AI).

On November 13, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City held its third meeting of public institution heads in a conference room at Gwangju City Hall, chaired by Mayor Min Hyungbae, and discussed plans to promote public institution innovation, including these measures. The meeting was attended by Vice Mayor for Citizens' Sovereignty Yoon Nansil, Vice Mayor for Industry and Economy Kang Myeong-su, relevant bureau and department heads, and the heads of 36 public institutions.

Min Hyung-bae, mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, speaks at the third meeting of public institution heads, held in the small conference room at Gwangju City Hall on the 13th. Provided by Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.

Gwangju Special City presented four major innovation goals to pursue by 2030: redefining the roles and functions of each institution; improving and connecting services with a focus on users; standardizing work procedures; and improving work practices through the AI transformation (AX).

Once each public institution has drawn up an innovation plan and measures to improve its services, the city plans to provide phased support, led by the Public Institution Innovation Promotion Team, for measures including updating systems and regulations and establishing a digital work environment.

In line with a change to the meeting format proposed by Mayor Min, this meeting adopted a “discussion after reports” format, replacing the previous approach centered on reports from individual institutions. Participants also shared examples of integrated initiatives and key pending issues at each institution.

The tourism organization introduced examples from the integration process involving the Gwangju Tourism Organization and the Jeonnam Tourism Foundation, including joint workshops, the operation of a task force dedicated to public meetings, and professional counseling. The Gwangju Cultural Foundation and the Jeonnam Cultural Foundation shared discussions on directions for shifting cultural policy in response to administrative integration, held at a cultural forum on November 6 with 100 cultural policy experts and members of a citizen discussion group.

Global Gwangju Broadcasting (GGN) announced plans for “A Boy’s Path: A K-Democracy Humanities Radio Tour,” to be held on November 14. Linked to Han Kang’s novel “Human Acts,” the event will follow a walking route from Chonnam National University to Gwangju Station and May 18 Democracy Square, with live radio broadcasts in Korean and English and commentary on history and literature. Around 300 people, including residents and international students, are expected to take part.

Work to integrate public institutions is also underway. At the first meeting of public institution heads in July, the city decided to consolidate 22 of the 41 public institutions in Gwangju and Jeonnam whose functions were similar into 11 institutions. Nine institutions have now agreed on an integration method and are preparing to draft the relevant ordinances; seven draft ordinances are awaiting review by the council. The remaining institutions will continue discussions on integration methods and the preparation of draft ordinances.

Mayor Min said, “I ask the public institutions slated for integration to complete the process smoothly and work to raise the standard of public services so that residents can feel the improvement in their everyday lives.”

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