Meet the Mayor of Gwangju

Gwangju’s own Mayor Kang Un-tae
took some time to talk with Gwangju News

Gwangju’s mayor, Kang Un-tae, who was elected in 2010 and will serve until 2014, shares his experience and network from previous elected positions as mayor of Suncheon (‘89-‘90), mayor of Gwangju (‘94-‘95), minister of Internal Affairs (’97), and as a member of the National Assembly (’00 and ’08).

Mayor Kang will be serving Gwangju for another three years as it continues to grow as an internationally-recognized city. Gwangju News was able to interview the Mayor during his busy schedule.

Gwangju News: Congratulations! The May 18^th Democratic Uprising has been added to UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” Register. Over the years this event continued to be a controversial issue reminding citizens not to forget about the past and the cost of democracy. What is planned to promote awareness around the world about 5.18?

Mayor Kang: After 31 years, Gwangju citizens’ sadness seems to have melted away through this recognition. A wise man has to remember the past and wait for the future open-mindedly whether it’s about the history of Gwangju, the history of the Republic of Korea, or the world’s democratic history. Informing the world about the May 18^th Democratic Uprising promotes values of democracy, human rights, and world freedom.

There are many things we have to do. Gwangju city has purchased Geumnamro Catholic Center, a building associated with the 5.18 Pro-democracy Movement, to be the archives and home of documentary materials. We are urgently working to provide easy access to the public to 5.18 documentaries, over 850,000 pages, which will be digitalized into a website linked to UNESCO.

In early September, the UNESCO Chair is scheduled to visit Gwangju to award the 5.18 UNESCO recognition certificate. Being recognized by UNESCO helps transform 5.18 from a Korean historical event into a world recognized event that promotes peace and human rights.

At this meeting in September I would like to set up a UNESCO-Gwangju May Peace Prize. In that visit, I think we can conclude the outline of the prize.  We will also continue to hold human rights forums inviting cities of the world to give more recognition of the May Uprising.

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“I [am] deeply impressed by Gwangju News volunteers. I have no feedback to give you, but if you have anything to ask for, come to us. I will always be ready for your visit.” 

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GN: For the past year and a half, I have been able to teach Gwangju citizens for the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade. What preparations are being made for 2015?

Mayor Kang: The Universiade will have five basic concepts. The first concept is ecology; the “Eco Versiade” is to promote an ecologically friendly approach to the implementation of the games. The Athlete Village built just outside of the city has been renovated and rebuilt from previously existing apartment complexes. After the games these buildings will again be made available as apartments.

We now need 77 stadiums and arenas. Pre-existing facilities will be re-used and re-purposed with only three new stadiums needing to be built. Water, LED and solar power will create these new eco-friendly facilities which include a multi-purpose gymnasium, archery range, and a swimming pool

The second concept is peace: “Peace Versiade”. We will create a united team from both South and North Korea. While this plan hasn’t been announced to North Korea, I have mentioned it a few times through the media.

The third concept is “IT Versiade”. This is to build on and celebrate Korea’s success as a powerhouse of IT. This is especially important to recognize Gwangju’s optical industry success. Fourth, the “Culture Versiade” adds a connection to Gwangju’s cultural conventions.

In August a troop of performers enacted Jasmine Gwangju which is about May 18th Democratic Uprising in Edinburgh, UK. When I visited Edinburgh last year, we talked about co-operating to host a youth festival when the Gwangju Summer Universiade starts. The final concept is “Service Versiade”. 

Owned by our citizens and citizen volunteers, approximately twenty thousand people are being trained to help visiting athletes and tourists. The current training plan focuses on foreign language training. By 2015 twenty thousand people will be interpreters and volunteers fostering a sense of pride, involvement and cultural sensitivity for these games which promote good sportsmanship.

GN: The Gwangju Summit of Urban Environmental Accord (UAE) is held this fall. What is this Summit about?

Mayor Kang: For the UEA, we are planning to have the forum from October 11th to 14th. It began in San Francisco in 2005, and then worked collaboratively with UNEP, UN Environment Protection Commission. Sixty-seven cities have been invited to the forum, at which we will introduce an urban environmental index. This index measures seven areas including air, water, trash management.

This index will be used to assess cities of the world in three tiers, advanced countries, developing countries and low developing countries. We would like to propose clean development management with the help of UNEP, developing skills in reducing CO2 gas, for example. Additionally the summit will have a display of environmental protection skills and a general exhibition.

GN: In April 2011 Gwangju city released statistics about foreign visitors to Gwangju. In 2009 there were 130,000 visitors; in 2010 230,000 – nearly doubling within a year.  This is the highest increase in the nation. What will you do to continue to support this foreign exchange?

Mayor Kang: Gwangju is now stepping into international society. While foreign tourists have increased, foreign residents have also increased from 16,000 to 18,000 people. Gwangju is an unknown city outside of South Korea. However, results like these show Gwangju is rectifying this lack of recognition and becoming a popular Korean city destination.

Gwangju is the capital of culture and art; we are a city of democracy and host cultural conventions. Gwangju is also the base for the government and has designated special zones for R&D (research and development) as well as for the high-tech science industry. Tourists and international residents are a more common sight these days in Gwangju, and Gwangju citizens see this as part of the growth of the city.

I want to provide better housing services to visitors and international residents. I also want to expand tourist centers around the city, with a larger one located at Gwangju Train Station, which is expanding soon. At the same time I will develop more tourist sites along coastal areas, and many on islands near Jeonnam province.

I will increase the number of multi-cultural family centers from four to five. They will provide Korean language training for easier settlement and acculturation as well as other services. These centers will provide services for better job searching for international residents.

One more thing I should mention, every Friday afternoon, I talk with the citizens of Gwangju. A variety of citizens discuss their problems and I try to solve them. In the near future, I would be very happy to meet international residents.

GN: Gwangju News magazine is made entirely by volunteers; a diversity of people give their time and effort to make it. Do you have any suggestions about what you would like to see in the magazine?

Mayor Kang: I am impressed by your voluntarism.

One of the reasons that 5.18 was easily accepted by the assessment committee of UNESCO was because of a diary written by an 18-year-old woman. She claimed that even though 5.18 was termed a “riot” by the government, there wasn’t the mob mentality of a riot. She wrote that Gwangju people voluntarily protected banks and jewelry shops. “There were no robberies, no thieves, no violence among us in the absence of security,” she stated, “The citizens were in charge of security of the city.” The assessment committee members were deeply moved by her journal.

So too, am I deeply impressed by Gwangju News volunteers. I have no feedback to give you, but if you have anything to ask for, come to us. I will always be ready for your visit.

 Interview conducted and written by Maria Lisak.

A previous version of this article appeared
in the October 2011 print edition of Gwangju News.

In closing from the writer:
We don’t win awards for our magazine, but this opportunity to interview the Mayor of Gwangju was a great reward giving recognition to the Gwangju international community who volunteer, contribute and read Gwangju News.

Thanks to the Mayor and his office for his time and attention.

Special thanks to Dr Gyonggu Shin, SingSing Kim, the Mayor’s office,
Seoyoung Park (dictation), and Gyuri Park (translation).