강기정의 ‘복합외교’ 실험: 항일의 역사에서 AI 미래차의 실리까지 > K-wave Trends

The first keyword of this visit is the reconstruction of ‘historical consensus’ and ‘cultural trust.’ The delegation visited Harbin to honor the noble anti-Japanese spirit of patriot Ahn Jung-geun and followed the footsteps of Gwangju-born musician Zheng Lücheng, seeking points of historical convergence shared by both nations. In particular, the meeting with the Mayor of Harbin, which strengthened cultural bonds centered on anti-Japanese figures, reveals a determination to foster solid, local-level trust even amidst potentially strained international relations. This cultural approach will function as a powerful diplomatic asset that shares the values of democracy and peace between the two cities, going beyond a simple review of history.

In Beijing, the focus shifts further toward the ‘modern succession’ of cultural assets and the ‘advancement of city branding.’ Mayor Kang met with the bereaved family of Zheng Lücheng to explore ways to utilize his artistic legacy as a core asset for Gwangju, the Asian Culture Hub City, and established networks with key institutions such as the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Furthermore, the visit to the Beijing Zoo’s panda pavilion, which boasts a 120-year history, reflects an intention to learn the essence of city marketing. By witnessing firsthand how a symbolic ecological asset like the panda can enhance city brand value and become a core of ecological tourism, the delegation is conducting practical benchmarking to reflect these insights into policies for facilities like the Gwangju Uchi Park Zoo.

The latter part of the visit is focused on inspecting high-tech industrial sites to secure ‘industrial benefits.’ Wuhan is a city that possesses the world’s largest commercialized zone for unmanned autonomous driving, which aligns with the future vision of the mobility industry that Gwangju aspires to achieve. The delegation toured the unmanned automated production lines and humanoid robot center at the Xiaomi smart factory, closely examining how AI-based manufacturing innovation is actually changing the industrial ecosystem. As Gwangju was designated as the nation’s first autonomous driving demonstration city this year, these field inspections will serve as an invaluable textbook for enhancing technical maturity and concretizing corporate support policies.

The reason Gwangju is paying close attention to Wuhan’s case is not only for the advancement of autonomous driving technology but also to benchmark the road and communication infrastructure systems that support it. Wuhan’s national intelligent connected vehicle test demonstration zone has entered a practical commercialization stage, making it an optimal model to provide solutions for the challenges Gwangju faces. Beyond mere technical imitation, the plan is to dramatically boost the competitiveness of the Gwangju-style future car industry by witnessing firsthand the policy deregulation for safety and the construction of business-friendly infrastructure. This is also an expression of Gwangju’s strong will to leap forward as a hub for South Korea’s innovative growth, using AI and future cars as its two wings.

Another significant meaning of this visit is that local government diplomacy is evolving into a new model of ‘complex diplomacy.’ Bundling disparate elements—history, culture, ecology, and high-tech—into a single diplomatic package is a very clever approach. The method of deriving industrial cooperation from areas where cultural consensus has been formed not only builds trust with the counterpart but is also much more advantageous for establishing long-term partnerships. As Mayor Kang Gi-jung emphasized, the practical cooperation system built by directly examining China’s innovation policies and industrial sites is expected to become a powerful driving force for the key issues Gwangju will pursue in the future.