Suwon City and Bongwha County in North Gyeongsang Province Become 'Sister Cities' to Pursue Joint Development and Prosperity

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jeong Jun-sung] Suwon Special City and Bongwha County in North Gyeongsang Province have become 'sister cities' to pursue joint development and prosperity.

The city visited Bongwha County on the 28th of last month, signed a sister city agreement, and pledged to cooperate in the development and friendship of both cities.

The agreement ceremony held at Bongwha County Office's main conference room was attended by a 16-member delegation from Suwon City led by Mayor Lee Jae-jun and Bongwha County Governor Park Hyun-guk.

The Suwon City delegation included senior Suwon City officials, as well as representatives from the Suwon City Council and the Suwon City Neighborhood Leaders Association, while Bongwha County was joined by senior county officials, the Bongwha County Council, and the Bongwha County Township Leaders Association.

The agreement contains provisions for both cities to pursue common prosperity and development through exchanges and cooperation in various areas including the economy, and to promote friendship by activating exchanges in administration and tourism.

The Suwon City delegation subsequently toured the Baekdudaegan Arboretum, a representative tourist destination in Bongwha County known as Asia's largest, and shared a dinner with Bongwha County officials to strengthen their friendship.

Previously, the city began its ties with Bongwha County by delivering donations during flood damage in the county last summer.

Meanwhile, Bongwha County, home to approximately 29,000 residents, boasts a pristine natural ecological environment with the Baekdudaegan Mountains, Nakdong Jeongmaek Ridge, and the Nakdong River. The county hosts specialized festivals including the Bongwha Silver Fish Festival and the Bongwha Korean Medicinal Herb and Matsutake Mushroom Festival, attracting 650,000 tourists last year.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, “If both cities pool their wisdom, there will be limitless areas for cooperation, such as exchanges involving foreign residents,” and added, “Suwon City will not spare its support and cooperation so that our sister city, Bongwha County, can grow even larger.”