Hwaseong Special City Strengthens Cooperation with Dunkirk, France on Urban Regeneration and Industrial Transition

Hwaseong Special City (Mayor Jung Myung-geun) visited Dunkirk, France on the 14th (local time) to share outcomes of international youth exchange programs and discuss ways to expand mutual cooperation between the two cities, focusing on urban regeneration and industrial transition.

Hwaseong Special City and Dunkirk initiated exchanges through the "Network of Cities of Memory," which preserves memories of war and shares values of peace. In August, Hwaseong Special City invited a youth delegation from Dunkirk to participate in an international exchange program. This visit was arranged to further develop cooperative relations between the two cities based on previous exchange outcomes.

The delegation, led by Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jung Myung-geun, toured downtown Dunkirk and major urban regeneration sites, examining how the industrial city has reorganized urban spaces while preserving its historical identity.

They then visited "Ecosystem D," a regional innovation support organization, to learn about Dunkirk's major policies and implementation cases, including regional business support, fostering new industries, attracting companies, and reducing carbon emissions in industrial sectors, while exchanging views with related officials.

Subsequently, Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jung Myung-geun met with Dunkirk Mayor Patrice Vergriete to share previous exchange outcomes and discuss future directions for cooperation.

During the meeting, they shared results of the international youth exchange program held in August in Hwaseong with the theme of "Memory and Peace," and watched a video containing footage from the exchange activities.

The two mayors discussed ways to continue international exchanges so that young people can understand each other's history and culture. At the same time, they explored cooperation possibilities by sharing policies and experiences in fields of common interest to both cities, including urban regeneration, industrial transition, and carbon neutrality.

Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jung Myung-geun stated, "The meeting of young people that started in Hwaseong in August has become a meaningful opportunity for understanding each other's history and culture and bringing the two cities closer together. We will continue youth exchanges while sharing policies and experiences in areas such as urban regeneration and industrial transition, which both cities are working to address, thereby expanding the scope of cooperation."

Meanwhile, Hwaseong Special City plans to continue youth international exchanges with Dunkirk and participate in "Network of Cities of Memory" activities, while consistently developing cooperative relations by sharing policies and cases in mutually interested fields such as urban regeneration and industrial transition.