The South Jeolla-Gwangju Great Transformation Planning Committee held a "Dialogue with Special Citizens" event at the Gwangju Creative Economy Innovation Center on Thursday.
The event, held under the theme "Designing Together a Global Top-100 Startup City," drew about 200 attendees, including Rep.-elect Min Hyeong-bae, committee chair Jeong Eun-seung, Ha Sang-yong, chairman of the Startup Support Network, and Im Hyeon-taek, a member of the committee's industry and economy subcommittee.
Participants offered a range of proposals, including attracting global talent and supporting their settlement, expanding support for youth and women entrepreneurs, creating conditions for those who have failed in business to try again, and supporting AI companies.
They also called for building a framework in which regional universities, industry and local governments work together to help global talent find jobs and settle in the area.
The committee plans to continue its "Dialogue with Special Citizens" series across a range of fields — including culture, women, agriculture and livestock, marine fisheries, and labor — having launched the series with the entrepreneurship sector.
"Entrepreneurship is a core driver for keeping young people in the region and creating new industries and jobs," Min said. "We will actively incorporate the on-the-ground voices heard today into the design of the new startup policy for the integrated special city."
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