Suwon City and Bongwha County, Gyeongbuk Province Become 'Sister Cities' to Pursue Common Development and Prosperity

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special Metropolitan City and Bongwha County, Gyeongbuk Province have become 'sister cities' to pursue common 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 in the main conference room of Bongwha County Government was attended by a 16-member Suwon City delegation led by Mayor Lee Jae-jun and County Chief Park Hyun-guk of Bongwha.

The Suwon City delegation included senior officials of Suwon City, members of the Suwon City Council, and the chairman of the Suwon City Neighborhood Chief Council. From Bongwha County, senior officials of Bongwha County, members of the Bongwha County Council, and the chairman of the Bongwha County Township Council participated.

The agreement includes commitments that both cities will pursue mutual prosperity and development through exchanges and cooperation in various fields including the economy, and promote friendship by revitalizing exchanges in administration, tourism, and other sectors.

Following the ceremony, the Suwon City delegation toured the Baekdudaegan Arboretum, a representative tourist destination of Bongwha County known as Asia's largest arboretum, and shared a dinner with Bongwha County officials to deepen their friendship.

Earlier, the city began its connection with Bongwha County by delivering donations during the county's flood damage last summer.

Meanwhile, Bongwha County, home to approximately 29,000 residents, boasts pristine natural and ecological environments including the Baekdudaegan Range, the Nakdong Jeongmaek Range, and the Nakdong River. The county hosts specialized festivals such as the Bongwha Sweetfish Festival and the Bongwha Herbal Beef and Pine Mushroom Festival, attracting 650,000 tourists last year.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "If we pool our wisdom, the areas in which both cities can cooperate, such as exchanges with foreign residents, will be limitless," and added, "Suwon City will spare no effort in providing support and cooperation so that our sister city Bongwha County can grow even larger."