Cities today issue 12 | Page 30

CITY PROFILES Mr. Kang Un-tae Tel: +82-62-613-2001 Gwanju Metropolitan City Photo: Auteurkims http://eng.gwangju.go.kr/ 1,500,000 United Cities and Local Government (UCLG, 2006) North East Asia Regional Government (NEAR, 2008) METROPOLIS (2001) Sister Cities International (SCI, 2003) Lighting Urban Community International (LUCI, 2007) The International Association of Education Cities (IAEC, 2008) International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI, 2001) 20% Club for Sustainable Cities (2004) Local associations: Governors’ Association of Korea Mayor Council of Korea Balanced Regional Development Council Honam Mayor Council of Korea Gwanju wants to be a centre of Asian culture. This is a large-scale national project (from 2004 to 2023) with a focus on development of the cultural arts including nurturing artists, the development of culture and tourism and the development of art-media. Preparing for the 2015 Gwangju Universiade Games. The city has decided to redevelop old apartments to reduce the financial burden. The city wants to hold an eco-friendly event in cooperation with local residents. Wonju city in Gangwon Province Photo: Skolly Sister cities (5): Guangzhou (China, 1996), Tainan (China, 1988), Sendai (Japan, 2002), Medan (Indonesia, 1997), San Antonio (1982). Friendship cities (14): Wuhan (China, 2007), Shenyang (China, 2007), Dalian (China, 2011), Wenzhou (China, 2012), Luoyang (China, 2012), Malaca (Malasia, 2010), Seberang Perai (Malasia, 2013), Paramaribo (Surinam, 2012), Torino (Italy, 2002), Saarland (Germany, 2003), Leipzig (Germany, 2012), Barcelona (Spain, 2011), Kazan (Russia, 2013), Abomey (Benin, 2010). Incheon Metropolitan City Photo: Incheon Metropolitan City MOU signed cities (14): Yantai (China, 2006), Beijing (China, 2012), Yanchi (China, 2012), Kitakyushu (Japan, 2011), Sakai (Japan, 2011), Toyama (Japan, 2011), Iloilo (Philippines, 2011), Matale (Sri Lanka, 2011), Los Angeles (U.S, 2012), Rio de Jainero (Brazil, 2012), Friuli (Italy, 2011), Bamenda (Cameroon, 2011), Maputo (Mozambique, 2011), Senegal (2011). The Gwangju Metropolitan City budget was 3,578,100,000,000 won (US$3.32 billion) in 2013 allocated on the following basis: Mobility: 385,600,000,000 won (US$358 million) Housing: 23,900,000,000 won (US$22.2 million) Energy: 1,300,000,000 won (US$1.2 million) Water and sanitation: 86,900,000,000 won (US$80.6 million) Waste management: 43,500,000,000 won (US$40.4 million) Security: 3,200,000,000 won (US$3 million)