Gwangju City News

Reprinted with permission from Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall Photographs courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall

Mayor Lee Focuses on AI-Centered Future Industry

Gwangju Metropolitan City is making a bold move to become an artificial intelligence hub. Last month, Mayor Lee Yong Sup visited Lee Kyoung-jun, professor at Kyung Hee University, and discussed ways to advance the Gwangju-tailored artificial intelligence business model. Professor Lee is the nation’s top artificial intelligence and big-data authority and has served as director of the International Center for Electronic Commerce (ICEC) and suggested how to build an artificial intelligence-based platform model for Gwangju.

Mayor Lee also met with Yoon Jong-ki, chairman of the Korea Road Traffic Authority (KoROAD), and decided to work for the construction of a high-tech convergence vehicle license test site based on artificial intelligence in Gwangju. Currently, of the 17 metropolitan governments nationwide, only Gwangju does not have this type of test center. Mayor Lee also discussed ways to build a demo complex for future mobility, including automobiles and drones. Through the meeting, City Hall and KoROAD decided to cooperate to maximize the synergy between the future mobility multi-test complex and the artificial intelligence infrastructure being built by Gwangju City. Gwangju City’s active move is intended to focus on fostering artificial intelligence-oriented future industries in the recently designated Gwangju Free Economic Zone in an attempt to secure growth engines through related experts.

Meanwhile, since the declaration of its vision for an “AI Hub City” in January, Gwangju City has been stepping up efforts to create an artificial intelligence ecosystem by signing investment agreements with 13 companies so far this year through active corporate attraction and drawing actual investment from seven of them.

Mayor Lee said, “Despite the crisis caused by COVID-19, we are not slowing down the pace in fostering new future industries in preparation for the post-corona period,” and adding, “We are meeting AI experts in various fields to enhance the completion of the Gwangju-tailored AI business model so that Gwangju can become an artificial intelligence hub.”

Gwangju City News

Reprinted with permission from Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall Photographs courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall

Mayor Lee Requests Reduction of Corporate Tax in Free Economic Zone

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong Sup asked the government to consider corporate tax cuts for high-tech companies from home and abroad in the Free Economic Zone. On June 10, the Mayor attended the second expanded trade strategy coordination meeting held by Prime Minister Jung Saegyun in a video conference to discuss export and economic issues.

More than 70 people attended the meeting, including Mayor Lee and Chung Chang-sun, chairman of the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, heads of 17 cities and provinces, heads of 16 regional chambers of commerce, heads of five economic organizations, heads of export support agencies, and as many as 18 ministers and vice-ministers of central government ministries. At the meeting, Mayor Lee asked the following: — Income tax reduction for domestic and foreign hightech industries moving into free economic zones so that these zones can become new industrial hubs of the future to lead innovative growth. — In order to revitalize the Gwangju Cultural Industry Investment Promotion District, the tax benefits for companies operating in the cultural industry should not be limited to facility investment but include labor costs for cultural content-creation activities considering the characteristics of the cultural industry. The Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy replied that “there will be a proactive review in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance.” In addition, Chung Chang-sun, chairman of the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggested that the preliminary feasibility evaluation be approved for the Environmentally Friendly Air Industry Promotion Project, which is being pursued by the Gwangju Metropolitan Government to enhance the vitality of the manufacturing industry in Gwangju, as the industry has been stagnant due to the consumer electronics industry crisis, and to develop the clean-air industry, emerging as a new export industry. The second round of the expanded trade strategy coordination meetings was held to find ways to recover the economy and to grow at a time when the negative impact of the COVID-19 has become visible and external economic instability has been aggravated by U.S.–China tensions. The central government, local governments, and export support agencies gathered to find ways to resolve regional exports and economic issues.

During the meeting, measures were discussed to enhance export vitality based on region and site. These included seven key measures, including strengthening emergency support for companies in liquidity crisis and strengthening export marketing for promising coronavirus-related items. In addition, there were discussions on ways to resolve problems and suggestions on economic issues by

region.