Yangpyeong County Intensifies Exchange and Cooperation with Chaudfontaine, France

[Suwon Ilbo=Eom In-yong Reporter] Yangpyeong County made an official visit to Chaudfontaine, France on the 1st (local time) and carried out various schedules to further strengthen cooperation between the two cities.

During this visit, △signing of a friendly exchange agreement △floral tributes at the cenotaph in front of City Hall and the Korean 100th Anniversary Monument △visit to the Chaudfontaine War Memorial Museum △discussions on student exchange through visits to middle schools and elementary schools were conducted.

The Yangpyeong County delegation signed a friendly exchange agreement between Yangpyeong County and Chaudfontaine with the City Council Speaker at City Hall, deciding to expand cooperation in the fields of history, culture, and education. Chaudfontaine is the city where independence activist Hong Jae-ha first settled in France around the time of World War I, and it is a place with deep historical ties.

After signing the agreement, the Yangpyeong County delegation visited the cenotaph in front of City Hall and the Korean 100th Anniversary Monument located behind City Hall to conduct a floral tribute ceremony.

Hong Jae-ha participated in France's post-war reconstruction projects after World War I and raised funds for the independence movement through labor. He organized the 'Korean National Association in France,' Europe's first Korean organization, and led independence movement activities. Recognizing his contributions, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Patriotic Service in 2019, and his remains were repatriated to the homeland through the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in 2019.

Taking this visit as an opportunity, Yangpyeong County plans to widely promote the life and achievements of Hong Jae-ha and review plans to establish a space honoring him within the International Peace Park.

The Yangpyeong County delegation then visited the Chaudfontaine War Memorial Museum to share the war history of both cities and commemorated the significance of French military participation in the Korean War in 1951 and the Battle of Chipyeongni. In particular, Chaudfontaine is near the Verdun Battle, France's most intense battlefield during World War I, making it a place of deep significance where both the Korean War and the pain of the World Wars are jointly remembered.

Additionally, the delegation visited middle schools and elementary schools in Chaudfontaine to discuss ways to activate student exchange programs. Yangpyeong County plans to provide opportunities for young people to learn each other's history and broaden cultural understanding through student exchange programs between the two cities.

Meanwhile, taking this visit as an opportunity, Yangpyeong County and Chaudfontaine plan to further strengthen their cooperative relationship within historical bonds and continuously expand future-oriented exchanges.

County Chief Jeon Jin-seon stated, "Chaudfontaine is a city with deep historical ties to Yangpyeong, and I hope this visit becomes an opportunity to further expand exchange and cooperation between the two cities," adding "Based on our solidarity with France, Yangpyeong County will pursue various projects including the construction of an International Peace Park, historical research cooperation, and student exchanges to create tangible results."