[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Lee Su-won] Osan City and Andong City in North Gyeongsang Province held a sister city agreement ceremony at the Osan City Hall situation room on the 8th, pledging to cooperate for mutual and joint development.
Approximately 50 people attended the ceremony, including Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae, Osan City Council Chairman Lee Sang-bok and council members, Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang, private organizations, and related civil servants from both local governments.
Osan City is home to historic sites including Doksanseong Fortress and Semaedaeje, where General Gwon Yul's military tactics came to life during the Japanese invasions of Korea in the late 16th century, and Gweolrisaji, a shrine dedicated to Confucius, the founder of Confucianism and the foundation of Neo-Confucianism.
Andong City, based on Dosanseowon and Byeongsan Seowon academies, is renowned as the birthplace of the Yeongnam School of Neo-Confucianism, a major pillar of Joseon Dynasty Neo-Confucianism, and is home to Hahoe Village, where the National Treasure No. 121 Hahoe Mask was created.
Based on the shared ancient historical foundations of both cities, the two municipalities signed the sister city agreement with the aim of advancing together toward the future.
Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae stated in his remarks, "Andong, with numerous historical sites and cultural heritage including Dosanseowon, a center of scholarship and etiquette, Hahoe Village where Korean beauty and tradition are preserved, and Hahoe Byeolsin-gut, a National Intangible Cultural Property, shares much historical common ground with Osan, which has Gweolrisaji, a shrine that preserves the life and deeds of Confucius, and Doksanseong and Semaedaeje, where we can glimpse the wisdom of General Gwon Yul. Let us move forward together toward the future based on this history."
Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang said, "I hope that Osan City, which serves as a strategic transportation hub where the Gyeongbu Railway, National Highway 1, and Gyeongbu Expressway intersect and leads the fourth industrial revolution with its world-class semiconductor parts and materials industry, and Andong City, which positions itself as a leader in the fourth industrial revolution through hemp industry, water industry, and biopharmaceutical vaccine industry, will cooperate to achieve common prosperity in the fourth industry."
According to the agreement, Osan City and Andong City plan to share advanced administrative policies between the two cities, as well as discuss the operation of direct trading markets for local specialty products and discount benefits for citizens of sister cities at tourist attractions to facilitate active people-to-people exchanges.
Additionally, the cities will make every effort to promote human exchanges between the two municipalities, form mutual understanding and consensus, and serve as a model for improving residents' quality of life and mutual development between regions.
Meanwhile, Osan City maintains sister city relationships with Yeongdong County in North Chungcheong Province, Sokcho City in Gangwon Province, Suncheon City in South Jeolla Province, Jindo County in South Jeolla Province, and Namhae County in South Gyeongsang Province, continuing to foster city-to-city friendship.
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