Gwangju Mayor Park Kwan-yeol emphasized on October 19 that "community autonomy is a solid foundation for local governance, where residents collaboratively address and solve local issues."
During the "2026 Gwangju City Community Council Capacity Building Workshop" held at Opo Sports Park, Mayor Park made these remarks in the presence of community council members and officials.
The workshop aimed to strengthen communication and cooperation among community council members and to share experiences in community governance, enhancing resident-centered autonomy.
The event featured a pre-performance by community center clubs from Choyang-eup and Gonjiam-eup, followed by an opening ceremony, awards for outstanding contributors, collaborative programs, and talent shows.
Mayor Park awarded certificates to community council members who contributed to community development and discussed the achievements and experiences of regional operations while exploring directions for advancing community autonomy.
In particular, the Gwangju City Community Council read a resolution urging the establishment of regional cooperation measures related to the integrated water supply project for the Yongin semiconductor industrial complex and conducted an event using placards.
While acknowledging the necessity of fostering the national semiconductor industry, the council expressed that practical support and cooperative measures must be established, considering the local burden from the installation of water supply pipelines traversing Gwangju City.
Park Ho-yeon, chair of the Community Council, stated, "I thank the community council members for their dedication to community development. I hope this workshop serves as an opportunity to share experiences and strengthen the foundation for cooperation in community autonomy through communication and harmony."
There are also voices among local citizens emphasizing that community autonomy should not be limited to formal events but should establish itself as a practical communication channel to address everyday inconveniences and local issues.
This underscores the need for community council members' experiences and opinions to be actively reflected in municipal governance, expanding opportunities for citizens to participate directly in local development.
Mayor Park added, "I will continue to actively reflect residents' opinions in municipal governance and support the active implementation of community autonomy throughout the region."
Meanwhile, Mayor Park plans to use this workshop as a platform to share the on-ground experiences and local opinions of community council members, ensuring that community activities based on resident participation are revitalized throughout the community.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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