Leaders of local communities in Gwangju and the wider Jeonnam region proposed to establish a ‘Committee for the Future of the Local Community.’ The council suggested that Gwangju and Jeonnam establish the community innovation committee where the constituents such as local governments, universities, industries, research institutes, press, and local residents are organically connected to overcome the crisis of population decrease and to facilitate a better future.

At the 1st Community Forum hosted by CNU (President: Jeong Byung-seok) and the President's Council of Gwangju Jeonnam Regional Universities (Chairperson: Kim Hyuk-jong, President of Gwangju University), Ju Jeong-min, the Director of the CNU Office of Planning and Coordination, provided a presentation under the title of 'Innovation of Gwangju and Jeonnam Regions and the Responsibilities of Universities'. According to Ju, the rural communities of Korea have suffered from low birth rates, aging populations and decreased capabilities of local industries while regional universities have faced a similar fate due to the decreased population of school-aged children and widespread preference of universities in the capital area, which all in all have been foreseeing the crisis of ‘the death (disappearance) of regional communities.’ Ju added, "To overcome this, we need to organize and operate a community innovation committee that integrates the collective efforts of local innovation agents as a countermeasure."

The Community Forum was held at the Kim DaeJung Convention Center with the theme of 'Future Industry and Universities of the Region', and leaders from major universities, public corporations, government-funded research institutes, and the local press, including Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop and Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok, attended the forum.