January News Round Up
Coming to Gwangju: Aung San Suu Kyi
This month’s News Roundup begins with a huge event to start off Gwangju’s 2013 with a bang! The city will receive a visit from the world-renowned leader of Myanmar’s movement towards democracy, Dr. Aung San Suu Kyi. This will be the first visit to Korea for Suu Kyi and there are widely anticipated plans for a stop in Gwangju as part of a nationwide tour. A very busy schedule has been planned to fill her time spent here and the media will definitely be following her travels throughout Korea. After attending a 2013 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics special event, Suu Kyi will visit Gwangju on January 30 for a two-night visit. Dr. Suu Kyi will first accept the 2004 Gwangju Human Rights prize that she was originally unable to receive while under house-arrest. On the second and final day, Suu Kyi plans to visit and pay respects at the National 5.18 Democracy Cemetery. A lecture at Chonnam National University will culminate Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to Gwangju as she plans to see as much of the country as possible.
Gwangju Travelog II Released
The second volume of the Gwangju Travelog has been published to continue the story of the city’s hidden attractions. Contributions from the Gwangju Cultural Foundation’s volunteers make up the over-260 page book. They have searched throughout Gwangju, met with local celebrities, scoped out famous restaurants, and have come back with many stories hoping to entertain readers. The group met three times every week in 2012 to discuss and research information that they planned to include in the book. This second edition includes seven chapters and results from what the Cultural Foundation’s manager said were many requests for more information. The manager also mentioned, “We want this book to help first-time visitors and foreigners who are looking for the best guidebook that Gwangju has to offer.”
City wins 2012 Korea Disability Rights Award
On December 3 in Seoul, Gwangju won the 2012 Korea Disability Rights Award. The award is a result of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons and the Korea Charter for the Rights of Disabled Persons. Eligible winners include individuals and organizations that take the initiative in promoting disability rights and prohibiting discrimination since 1999. The competition measures five sections, including policy-making, action plans, media, local government and public institutions. First-place winners usually receive three congratulatory plaques and a cash prize while second and third-place take a prize from the national chairman. The city garnered praise for establishing itself as a definitive ”city of human rights” after declaring a Charter of Gwangju Human Rights and establishing a “human rights index”. Gwangju City also received a high score for social welfare, through creating customized jobs for the disabled.
Second Convention Center coming soon
A completion date has been set for Gwangju’s second convention center. The new site will give the city another setting aside from the Kimdaejung Convention Center to hold large events. Following its opening, the new venue is set to host many large events in Gwangju next year. Noteworthy future events such as the 2013 World Korean Business Convention, and 2014’s World Hydrogen Energy Conference along with the 2015 Summer Universiade are already set to take place at the new building. According to a report, this convention center stands to help Gwangju become a more powerful MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Convention, Events and Exhibition) Industrial center. The City hopes to benefit from the many advantages that come with having an additional convention center. This includes having the ability to hold more international events while also giving citizens yet another cultural venue to get out and visit.