Gwangju Mayor Park Kwan-yeol reiterated his commitment to focusing administrative efforts on alleviating traffic congestion, recovering the local economy, and fostering a self-sufficient city during a talk concert marking the 100th day of his administration on October 15.
At the '100-Day Talk Concert with Citizens' held at the Namhansanseong Hall of the Gwangju Cultural Arts Center, Mayor Park outlined the achievements of his administration over the past 100 days and the direction of future policies, stating, "I will dedicate efforts to resolving issues directly related to citizens' lives."
He emphasized that communication with citizens goes beyond merely listening to their concerns, stating, "It is only complete when we respond with results to their voices. I will continue to seek answers in the field and prove them through tangible changes."
Since taking office, Mayor Park has operated a 'Direct Market Office' at Gyeonggwan Market, Gwangju Gyeonggi Station, and Chohwal Station, engaging with 4,570 citizens through the 'Direct Field 100 Days' initiative.
This engagement has led to the identification of 216 issues related to daily inconveniences and policy suggestions, which are being reflected in the administration's operations.
In the transportation sector, construction has begun on the Gonjiam Station branch line to introduce shuttle trains on the Gyeonggang Line, and the second section of Local Road 338, spanning 1.14 kilometers, has been completed.
Mayor Park plans to address traffic congestion in the Taejeon and Gosan areas, promote bypass road projects, and operate Gwangju-style night buses as part of improvements to public transportation and road networks.
Support for the local economy has also been expanded. The city secured an additional budget of 4.6 billion won for local currency issuance, increasing monthly benefits from 800 million won to 1.6 billion won, and raised the contribution for special guarantees for small and medium-sized enterprises from 1.1 billion won to 3.1 billion won.
In the welfare sector, the establishment of basic social ordinances and the launch of the Basic Social Committee have laid the groundwork for policy implementation.
Mayor Park also highlighted plans to expand youth cultural spaces, enhance future education, and strengthen welfare for women, people with disabilities, and the elderly as key policy directions closely related to citizens' lives.
Efforts to create a self-sufficient city to secure future growth engines are also accelerating.
Mayor Park envisions establishing a 30,000-unit AI smart city and a national industrial complex to create a city where housing, transportation, industry, and jobs are interconnected.
At the first meeting of the Yongin Semiconductor Industrial Complex Water Supply Regional Cooperation Committee, regional coexistence measures were proposed as a key agenda item.
The administration aims to explore the connection between expanding advanced industry infrastructure and regional development while focusing on creating youth jobs and attracting businesses.
During the talk concert, citizens engaged in a Q&A session regarding youth cultural spaces, youth employment, traffic congestion in the Taejeon and Gosan areas, and welfare expansion.
Citizens raised questions about bus routes, road expansions, park and sports facility development, river maintenance, and the timelines for long-delayed projects.
Mayor Park explained the reasons for delays in various projects and the status of discussions with relevant agencies, outlining future directions.
As he marks his 100th day in office, Mayor Park plans to continue direct communication with citizens while concentrating the administration's capabilities on translating policies in transportation, economy, welfare, and industry into concrete results.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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