Gwangju Special City to designate July 1 as 'Citizens' Day'; 'Citizens' Song' to vary by event

【Financial News, Jeonnam-Gwangju = Hwang Tae-jong, reporter】Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Special City) plans to designate July 1, the day of its launch, as 'Citizens' Day.
However, rather than designating a separate 'Citizens' Song' as a symbolic item, the city plans to use 'March for the Beloved,' the song ranked highest in citizen preference, at official city events, while also featuring a variety of songs depending on the nature of each event.
Yoon Nan-sil, Gwangju Special City's vice mayor for civic sovereignty, said, “I hope 'Citizens' Day' will become a meaningful day that marks the new beginning of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and brings South Jeolla Province and Gwangju together in harmony as one community,” and emphasized, “I will make it a commemorative day that all citizens can participate in and feel connected to.”
In an opinion poll (sample survey) conducted by Gwangju Special City to gather citizens' views on designating 'Citizens' Day,' July 1 ranked first in preference with 47.5%, and also came in first in a follow-up survey with 62.5%. It ranked first across all regions of South Jeolla Province and Gwangju. The follow-up survey was conducted on a broad scale, targeting 6,879 people through the online civic communication platform and including resident self-governing committee members, public officials from 27 city, county and district governments, and members of hometown associations in Korea and abroad.
Gwangju Special City also decided to use 'March for the Beloved,' which received the highest preference in both rounds of public consultation, at official city events such as the Citizens' Day ceremony and regular staff meetings. However, taking into account a range of citizens' views, including calls for a new song, the city decided to use different songs to suit the nature of each event rather than designate a particular song as a symbolic item in an ordinance.
Meanwhile, Gwangju Special City plans to pursue enactment of the 'Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Citizens' Day Ordinance' and make 'Citizens' Day' a signature commemorative day that fosters civic harmony and a sense of community.
[email protected] Hwang Tae-jong Reporter