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Gwangju City News
From the Gwangju Metropolitan City website (http://gwangju.go.kr)
“Come to Gwangju,” Online Youth Exchange Program Promoted Abroad
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Gwangju’s teenagers have promoted Korean culture through an online program with overseas adolescents from sister cities by interacting closely through events, discussions, and virtual trips. The youth cultural exchange program, hosted by Gwangju City and organized by the Gwangju International Center, was held twice this summer, July 19–29 and August 2–6.
In July, 23 young adults from Gwangju and 12 other countries, including the sister city of Sendai (Japan), took part in the event, while in August, 24 people from the sister city Medan (Indonesia) and Gwangju participated.
All participants in the program had received kits that were mailed in advance with English and Indonesian translations so they could enjoy firsthand the experience events they chose. The activities in the program, led by expert instructors in each field, were diverse, ranging from K-pop idol-like make-up tutorials, taekwondo instruction, and K-pop dance routines to making Hangeul souvenirs, and learning about the May 18 Democratization Movement.
In addition, as a group activity among the participants, they had to introduce themselves to the team members by taking pictures of restaurants and attractions in the neighborhood where they lived, sharing a special experience of scenery and vivid daily life around the world.
“I was able to communicate with participants from other countries and enjoy various experiences related to the areas of Korean culture that I was interested in,” said Nioka from Sendai, Japan.
Jang Bong-joo, a city official for international cooperation, said, “We have prepared an opportunity to revitalize youth exchanges, which have been stagnant due to COVID-19, into a new type of online cultural exchange, and we will continue to promote friendship and strengthen exchanges and cooperation.”
The selection of a remodeling design service for Dongmyeong Space (tentative name), a key hub of Gwangju’s flagship cultural village project, was completed in July and is progressing smoothly with the goal of opening in March next year.
Gwangju City had to select a remodeling construction company by the end of August to start the remodeling work from September and prepare for the opening scheduled for next year.
The Dongmyeong Space project will transform the former Jeonnam Provincial Superintendent’s Office of Education, located in the center of Dongmyeong-dong, into a tourist information space, a community space for travelers and residents, and an exhibition space where one can view the history of Dongmyeong-dong at a glance.
It is being promoted as part of a project to create a cultural village representing Gwangju by utilizing the regional identity of Dongmyeong-dong, located behind the Asia Culture Center, and connecting it with other touristic resources such as Yangnim-dong Cultural Historical Village and Jeonil Building 245.
While maintaining the meaning and memory of the past by maximizing the appearance of the former Jeonnam Provincial Superintendent’s Office, the interior was designed to enjoy modern times and the historical sensibilities of Dongmyeong-dong and focus on the safety of buildings by applying a seismic reinforcement design.
“We plan to develop a brand identity (BI) suitable for the identity of Dongmyeong Space and select a suitable operator,” said Kim Yeong-geun, head of the Cultural Infrastructure Creation Department in the city, adding, “We will faithfully prepare a preliminary system so that Dongmyeong Space plays a role as a tourism and cultural hub space.”
Gwangju Firefighting CPR Video Support
When receiving an emergency report of cardiac arrest, the Gwangju Fire and Safety Headquarters provides a video call support service for CPR to the caller via smartphone. This cardiopulmonary resuscitation video support service is designed to help the declarant perform CPR maneuvers quickly and accurately before 119 paramedics arrive on the scene in case of an emergency, helping anyone to undertake first aid in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
According to a video sent by a man who reported his father had collapsed in Gwangcheon-dong, Seo-gu, in April, CPR was performed until 119 paramedics arrived on the scene, at which point the patient received first aid and regained consciousness.
The Gwangju Fire and Safety Headquarters expects to have a tangible effect by providing first aid videos to firsttime reporters in situations where face-to-face training is difficult due to the spread of COVID-19.
In this regard, the rate of CPR administered by citizens who found cardiac arrest patients in Gwangju over the past three years was 12.7 percent, which was 10.4 percent lower than the national average of 23.1 percent.
“It is not easy to come upon someone experiencing cardiac arrest and for the caller to perform CPR without hesitation,” said Moon Hee-joon, head of the 119 General Situation Office, adding, “We will do our best to manage emergency situations so that callers can perform CPR quickly while watching the first aid video.”
