Mayor Park Gwan-yeol Sets Core Values of 'Communication, Results, and Practicality' for Gwangju's 9th Popularly-Elected Administration

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] At an inaugural press conference held on the 21st at Gwangju City Hall's Sunam Hall, Mayor Park Gwan-yeol of Gwangju stated, "I have set the core values of the 9th administration's city policies as communication, results, and practicality, and I will pursue administration that prioritizes practicality over ideology to bring change to citizens' lives for a 'Gwangju that directly connects with its people.'"

Mayor Park first noted, "While Gwangju's population continues to grow, citizens have not yet experienced sufficient changes in their quality of life. Therefore, the 9th administration will make changing citizens' lives a top priority over the city's external appearance."

He added, "The first goal of city administration is a direct-connection city, and this direct connection is the most important operational philosophy of Gwangju's 9th administration."

He also emphasized, "The second goal is to create a Gwangju where parents raising children can ease their childcare worries and young people can prepare for their futures. The third goal is to become a city that grows through convergence—AI technology and urban development advancing together, energy and industrial complexes being realized simultaneously—where people can study, research, and start businesses in a convergence city."

He continued, "The fourth goal, the most important task of the 9th administration, is to promote the Gyeonggang Line commuter shuttle train, introduce Gwangju-style owl buses, and gradually expand rail and road networks." He stressed, "The fifth goal is that we are researching ways to take on research and development functions and workforce training functions for semiconductors and AI in line with the government's three mega-projects."

Finally, he stated, "Over the next four years, Gwangju City under the 9th administration will pursue, on the basis of the 'direct-connection city,' tasks including 'citizens becoming happy,' 'growing through convergence,' 'opening traffic,' and 'creating a city where work and life blend harmoniously.'"