3+1 Strategy Unveiled: Jeong Jun-ho’s Bold Plan for Gwangju’s Integration and Growth

[Herald Economy (Gwangju) = Seo In-joo, Reporter] On February 10, Democratic Party Representative Jeong Jun-ho (Gwangju Buk-gu Gap) officially announced his candidacy for the inaugural mayor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City during a press conference held at the Gwangju City Council briefing room.

Jeong declared, “The integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam is not only a survival strategy but also a challenge to become the leading city.” He continued, “I will leverage the transformative power of the AI era to create a mega-region capable of competing with the capital area.”

He outlined a ‘3+1 strategy’ that combines future-oriented welfare with his core vision. This includes an AI-driven industrial revolution, a spatial revolution through the development of a Future Valley, and a governance revolution integrating speed, transparency, and citizen participation.

On industrial strategy, Jeong emphasized, “We will achieve 100% renewable energy through a mix of renewable sources and small modular reactors (SMRs). Through energy reshoring, we aim to bring businesses and jobs back to the Honam region.”

Jeong also unveiled plans to transform the Gwangju Airport site into a hub for robotics, advanced mobility, and AI research and production. He aims to develop Haenam, Muan, and Sinan as centers for semiconductors and data centers, effectively linking the southwestern coast into a single high-tech industrial chain.

Jeong emphasized, “By implementing future-oriented welfare that integrates jobs, housing, energy, and transportation, we will create an environment that attracts people. Our goal is to reach a population of 5 million within a decade.”

Addressing the controversy over the integrated city’s name and the location of the main government office, Jeong proposed ‘Honam Special City’. He stated, “We will ensure regional balance by distributing government offices across the region.” He added, “We plan to secure sustainable finances through 25 trillion KRW (18.75 billion USD) in national support over five years, complemented by a citizen future fund and a citizen-owned bank.”