Gwangju City News

From the Gwangju Metropolitan City website (http://gwangju.go.kr)

Photo courtesy of Gwangju Tourism website

City Library Announces “2022 Book Start Project”

The Gwangju City Library, with its three facilities of Mudeung, Sajik, Sansu, is carrying out a social childcare support campaign operating under the slogan “Let’s start our lives with books” to promote and develop reading habits from birth. The project to realize this is called the “2022 Book Start Project,” which began on March 23.

In the first half of the year, various programs such as the free distribution of book kits (consisting of a book bag, two books, and a guidebook) suitable for the growth stage from birth to eight years old, a book play program, and parent education are provided. Applications are being accepted through the city library website from March 10.

Book kits are available for children living in Gwangju eight years old and under by completing an application form at the children’s room of each library beginning April 1 with a copy of resident registration or a document that can prove the baby’s age. A total of 810 kits are to be distributed by each library on a firstcome, first-served basis.

For more information, refer to the city library website or contact the children’s room of a branch library (Mudeung 062-613-7747, Sajik 062-613-7772, Sansu 062-613-7814). Website: https://citylib.gwangju.kr

May 18 Archives Opens Class for Children

The May 18 Democratization Movement Archives will visit schools and hold a class with the theme of “The May 18 Uprising” for the upper grades of elementary school (Grades 5 and 6), as well as a May 18 Democratization Movement Classroom for children beginning in April.

This program is designed as a local community cooperation project in connection with the May 18 Archives and local schools. Its contents are designed for elementary students to understand the spirit of the Uprising through video recordings and photographs from the May 18 Democratization Movement.

Schools can apply for the program from March 14, and the program will run from April through June. The May 18 Archives expects this education to be an opportunity to cultivate the spirit of democracy, human rights, and peace in children.

For more information, refer to the website of the May 18 Democratization Movement Archives or contact the management division at 062-613-8209. Website: https://bit.ly/3ieyVrt

Translated by Karina Prananto.

Key Points from Gwangju Mayor’s March Press Conference

• On March 15 in his press conference, Mayor Lee thanked Gwangju citizens who actively participated in the presidential election last March 9. Despite the current situation of COVID-19, Gwangju had the highest voter turnout in the country with 81.5%. Although it has been a few weeks since the election, the atmosphere in Gwangju is still heavy and the citizens are struggling a lot. The mayor promises to work hard to create a stronger Gwangju.

• The launch of a new government task force is the best way to reflect local issues and national tasks. Gwangju’s development shall continue uninterrupted even under the next government. Gwangju’s four-thousand public officials are committed to opening a new era of transformation in Gwangju. As soon as the new president’s government’s transition committee is formed, Gwangju will make every effort so that local pending projects such as the AI Representative City Project, Gwangju-Style Job – Season 2 Project, the airport relocation project, and the early start of the Dalbit highspeed railway project will be reflected in the new government’s national tasks.

• On March 14, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport announced the cause of the collapse and measures to prevent a recurrence at the Hyundai I-Park disaster site in Hwajeong-dong. The main causes were unauthorized structural change and overall poor management, especially negligence in concrete quality control and general supervision.

• The mayor will strongly request Hyundai Development Company, once again, to be aware of its heavy responsibility and to provide sufficient compensation to the affected citizens, such as prospective tenants and shopping malls, and to devote company-wide capabilities to repair damage and deal with accidents at an early stage.

Gwangju Dong-gu (East District) Office News “Fountain of Light” Beams the Spirit of May

The chief administrator of Gwangju’s Dong-gu District, Im Taek, officially unveils the Fountain of Light on March 31, 2022, at the May 18 Democracy Plaza (in front of the ACC). This fountain will play a key role in transforming the site into a world-class historical and cultural plaza beyond Gwangju.

The Fountain of Light selected “Light and Fire” as its signature piece based on the events of May 1980, with a motif of torches of the citizens eager for democracy. During the day, one can see streams of water from the Fountain of Light, but it comes to life after dark with an embedded kinetic sculpture, an extra-large water screen, a floor map of Democracy Plaza, and media art, all of which are expected to enhance the Spirit of Gwangju this May.

For its creation, famous artists from home and abroad were invited, including general director Yoo Jae-heon, media artist Jin Si-young, composer Kim Hyung-seok, British media artist group Universal Everything, and Polish media artist Krzysztof Wodiczko.

Im Taek stated, “The May 18 Democratic Plaza fountain is located at a historical site symbolizing the May 18 Democratization Movement and serves to preserve, pass on, and promote the spirit of May, to be announced to the citizenry on March 31. And through the light of the fountain, it will turn Gwangju into a world-class cultural and tourism city.”