GwangJu Institute > Research Project > 2025 Research Project Plan

Gwangju InstituteResearch Project

2025 Research Project Plan

2025 Research Project Direction

Building Gwangju as a Global City of Inclusive Growth

Advancing as Korea’s leading city and, based on this,
realizing sustainable development as a global city

Strategic Directions

Priority Initiatives

Strengthening Global Competitiveness for Sustainable Development

Presenting Gwangju’s future vision and specific strategic tasks based on Future Vision 2050 research, and conducting planning research

Creating an Attractive City through Urban Spatial Re-creation

Presenting Gwangju’s future urban vision and promoting spatial structure planning and solutions to urban issues through improvements in urban planning and management systems
Reducing automobile dependence by improving public transport accessibility and promoting eco-friendly modes of transport

Creating an Advanced Industrial Economy City Ecosystem

Creating an advanced industrial ecosystem by securing AI-based super-gap technologies, cultivating innovative talent, fostering specialized industries, and expanding investment
Establishing a virtuous cycle in the regional economy to respond to low growth, polarization, population decline, youth outmigration, and aging

Realizing a Culture and Arts City with a High Quality of Life

Realizing inclusive integration of people from diverse cultural backgrounds based on Gwangju as a city of culture and arts
Pursuing cultural diversity for sustainable development and improved quality of life for citizens

Strengthening Cooperative Research to Solve Current Issues

Expanding the functions of the Gwangju Policy Research Council and strengthening the foundation for cooperative research
Expanding research cooperation with diverse institutions and expert groups within and outside the region

Implementation of Major Research Projects

Planning Research: Research Leading the Region’s Future

Research projects on Gwangju’s future-oriented municipal agenda and mid- to long-term policy development

< 2025 Major Planning Research Projects: 4 >

Strengthening Global Competitiveness for Sustainable Development
1. 1 Action Plan for a Global Inclusive City (Gwangju Vision 2050)
Creating an attractive city through urban spatial re-creation
1. 2 Measures to Restructure Gwangju’s Urban Space
Creating an Advanced Industrial Economy City Ecosystem
1. 3 Establishment of a Comprehensive Plan for Gwangju’s AI Transformation (AX)
Realizing a Culture and Arts City with a High Quality of Life
1. 4 Policy Evaluation and Development Measures for the Hub City of Asian Culture

Issue Research: Research Responding to Municipal Issues and Presenting Alternatives

Timely, practical, and alternative policy research centered on municipal issues to present alternatives and develop policies in response to current municipal issues and policy trends
- Conducting internal and external joint research and collaboration for convergence research

< 2025 Major Issue Research Projects >

Strengthening Global Competitiveness for Sustainable Development
1. 1 Establishment of the Basic Strategy and Implementation Plan for Sustainable Development in Gwangju Metropolitan City
2. 2 Comprehensive Survey of Gwangju Youth
3. 3 Basic Concept for N-Minute Living Zones in Gwangju Metropolitan City Based on Big Data
Creating an attractive city through urban spatial re-creation
1. 4 Basic Concept for Realizing Gwangju as a Pedestrian-, Bicycle-, and Public Transport-Oriented City
2. 5 Establishment of the Gwangju–Jeonnam Supra-Regional Plan (2026–2040)
3. 6 Establishment of the Basic Plan for Fostering and Supporting Ecotourism in Gwangju Metropolitan City
4. 7 Research on Measures to Revitalize Public Transport Based on City Bus Usage Data
5. 8 Research on Land Use Analysis and Improvement Measures to Revitalize Waterfront Spaces along the Yeongsan River
6. 9 Directions for Building a Metropolitan Transport Network for the Southwest Mega-City
Creating an Advanced Industrial Economy City Ecosystem
1. 10 Measures for Linking and Utilizing Local Currency in Response to the Entry of a Complex Shopping Mall
2. 11 Impact Assessment of the Farmers’ Public Benefit Allowance Program in Gwangju Metropolitan City
3. 12 Measures to Reduce Debt and Improve Fiscal Management Efficiency in Gwangju Metropolitan City (2025–2029)
4. 13 Analysis of the Regional Economic Ripple Effects of Gwangju Global Motors (GGM)
Realizing a Culture and Arts City with a High Quality of Life
1. 14 Thirty Years of Elected Local Autonomy in Gwangju: Diagnosis and Future Vision
2. 15 Establishment of the 2026–2030 Mid- to Long-Term Development Plan for Gwangju’s Cultural Content Industry
3. 16 Research on Social Disaster Risk Assessment Measures for Gwangju City
4. 17 Research on the Use of AI Technologies for Natural Disaster Management in Gwangju City

Issue Analysis: Research for Timely Response to Municipal Issues

Collecting opinions and conducting surveys and trend analyses to respond immediately to current issues
- Conducting research for timely response and carrying out assignments upon ad hoc requests from the city, city council, and others

< 2025 Major Issue Analysis Projects: 27 >

1. 1 Research on a Region-Specific Specialized Visa (Metropolitan Visa) Model that Meets Local Demand
2. 2 Measures to Reduce Debt and Improve Fiscal Management Efficiency in Gwangju Metropolitan City (2025–2029)
3. 3 Feasibility Review of Private Investment in a Sports-Entertainment Complex around Yeomju Sports Complex

Commissioned Research: Establishment of Statutory and Comprehensive Plans by Field, etc.

Projects carried out upon commission, including research for establishing comprehensive plans and major field-specific plans for the central government, Gwangju City, and autonomous districts, including subsidy projects
- Implementation of continuing projects contracted in 2024 and new contract projects in 2025

< 2025 Major Commissioned Research Projects: 2 >

1. 1 Survey and Comprehensive Plan for the Disaster and Safety Industry Base (Safety Policy Office)
2. 2 Establishment of a Strategy for Creating a Yeongnam–Honam Supra-Regional Economic Community in the Southern Region (East-West Exchange and Cooperation Foundation)

Strengthening Research Support for Regional Policy Issues

Reorganizing Specialized Research Centers

Establishing the AI Policy Research Center
- Realizing a leading AI city through AI industry development and AI-based research and utilization
- Urban information platforms for realizing an AI-based smart city; support for policy formulation that citizens can experience through data-based surveys and analysis; research support for revitalizing the AI industry, etc.
Reorganizing the Public Investment Analysis Center into the Public Investment and Economic Analysis Center
- Providing objective and professional results, including investment decision measures for local fiscal projects to improve fiscal efficiency at Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall and autonomous districts
- Observing and analyzing regional economic trends and providing monthly economic trend reports
- Observing and analyzing regional economic fluctuations and providing a monthly composite economic index
Revitalizing the operation of specialized research centers
- (Co-Prosperity Development Research Center) Exploring development directions for the Gwangju–Jeonnam supra-region; establishing cooperation measures and systems with surrounding areas to strengthen the Gwangju metropolitan area; and enhancing internal substance
- (Disaster and Safety Research Center) Conducting leading policy research and operating cooperative networks to realize Gwangju as a disaster-safe city where all citizens can live with peace of mind

Publishing periodicals to respond to major issues and provide research information

Publishing and providing timely analysis reports on major regional issues

Gwangju Policy Focus
(1–2 times per month)

Presenting policy directions on regional issues
Gwangju Think Net
(quarterly)

Selecting feature themes and covering regional policy trends and interviews with key figures
Gwangju Economic Trends
(monthly)

Comprehensive analysis of major regional economic conditions and indicators
Infographics
(monthly)

Statistical and visual presentation of information on major municipal fields, citizens’ lives, and key regional topics

Expansion of the Think Net “Gwangju Policy Research Council”

Systematizing the policy knowledge ecosystem through the establishment of a public data archive
- Sharing data generated by local public institutions through the establishment of a data archive
- Convergence-based policy development and joint research and surveys on current issues among public institutions using shared data
Sustaining the production and sharing of policy knowledge
- (Gwangju Policy Research Council) Joint cooperative research among member institutions when promoting projects related to Gwangju’s major current issues
- (Gwangju Policy Forum) Seminars inviting domestic and international scholars and experts on Gwangju’s major current issues and future-oriented themes
- Revitalizing activities by division of the Policy Research Council
- Expanding functional cooperation with local universities and government-funded and private research institutes
Innovating research capacity and responding to the future by expanding the policy knowledge information ecosystem
- Expanding participation in the Policy Research Council network to include government and public institutions located in Gwangju, joint institutions in Bitgaram Innovation City, and others
- Strengthening policy cooperation systems with domestic and international research institutes and local communities
- Promoting joint cooperation projects with public institutions participating in the Gwangju Policy Research Council in line with the implementation of the Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE)

Research and advisory network involving the city, city council, citizens, media, and others

Identifying research projects and conducting collaborative research with the City Council to respond to regional issues
- Promoting policy consultations with the Gwangju Metropolitan Council
Strengthening the practical relevance of policies through participation from academia, the business community, media, and others
- A communication system through venues for policy development and discussion between policy clients and the Institute
Proposing and jointly carrying out research projects with citizens and civil society
- Identifying research needs and obtaining advice through cooperation such as meetings with civil society organizations

Establishing systems for regional, domestic, and international research exchange and cooperation

Cooperation with Jeonnam Research Institute and Jeonbuk Institute for joint research on the Southwest Mega-City
Promoting joint cooperative research with the Honam–Jeju Research Institutes Council, the National Association of Regional Research Institutes, and others
Strengthening cooperation with Korea–Japan Strait region research institutes and Yellow Sea Rim research institutes
Strengthening joint research and policy forums with domestic academic societies and scholarly organizations