Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il Makes Official Visit to Da Nang, Vietnam for Friendly Cooperation Agreement

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin Special City will visit Da Nang, Vietnam from December 12 to 15 for a three-night, four-day trip to attend the opening ceremony of a library built by Yongin Special City in Guang Phu District, Da Nang, through official development assistance (ODA) projects, and to conclude a friendly cooperation agreement with Da Nang City.

Mayor Lee and the Yongin City delegation will depart on December 12 and visit the Korean Consulate General in Da Nang as their first schedule to discuss ways of exchange and cooperation with Da Nang City.

On December 13, Mayor Lee will attend the opening ceremony of the 'Yongin Public Digital Library' created by Yongin Special City as an ODA project, located within International Lotus Village, a non-profit organization in Guang Phu District, Da Nang.

Under the 'Ordinance on Promotion of Internationalization and International Exchange and Cooperation of Yongin City,' the city has been pursuing the construction of a library in Da Nang (formerly Tam Ky of Quang Nam Province) as one of its ODA projects to promote economic development and welfare enhancement in developing countries. Following final approval by the International Development Cooperation Committee in 2024, the city allocated 200 million won in budget for library construction.

After the opening ceremony, Mayor Lee plans to tour the library facilities and visit the International Lotus Village Comprehensive Welfare Town to encourage related personnel.

The International Lotus Village Comprehensive Welfare Town is a Korean-style welfare village established by International Lotus Village in 2015, equipped with various educational and welfare facilities including a vocational training center, Korean language school, and childcare center for local talent development.

On December 14, Mayor Lee will meet with Pham Duc An, Chairman of the Da Nang City People's Committee, at Da Nang City Hall to conclude a friendly cooperation agreement between Yongin Special City and Da Nang City.

The agreement is being concluded to inherit and expand the existing exchange and cooperation relationship, as Quang Nam Province, which signed a friendship cooperation agreement with Yongin Special City in 2013, was merged with Da Nang and restructured into Da Nang Central Municipality following Vietnam's administrative reorganization in July last year.

Through the agreement, both cities plan to continue exchange and cooperation in various fields including industry, culture, and education.

Da Nang City, with a population exceeding 3 million, is expanding investments in advanced technology sectors including semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and information technology (IT).

Da Nang City has shown great interest in Yongin Special City, where the world's largest semiconductor investment project is underway, and is reportedly exploring ways of cooperation related to semiconductors.

On December 15, the final day, Mayor Lee will visit the Da Nang High-Tech Park industrial zone to review industrial park development and operation status, exchange opinions on advanced industry promotion and corporate attraction policies, then conclude the official schedule and return home.

Mayor Lee said, "It is very meaningful that Yongin Special City is building a library in another country through its first-ever ODA project, helping young people and citizens in that region, and it also elevates Yongin Special City's international status."

Mayor Lee stated, "The library construction has served as an opportunity to advance friendly cooperation between Yongin Special City and Da Nang City to a higher level," and added, "While Da Nang is well known as a tourist city, it has recently expanded investment in fostering advanced industries such as semiconductors and AI, and research facilities and human resource development. As the world's largest semiconductor ecosystem is being created in Yongin City, Da Nang City is showing interest, and through this visit, I plan to discuss ways for cooperation between the two cities in the advanced industry sector."