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

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Yong-in Special City Mayor Lee Sang-il 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 Yong-in Special City in Guang Fu District, Da Nang through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project and to conclude a friendly cooperation agreement with Da Nang City.

Mayor Lee and a Yong-in City delegation will depart on December 12, with the first schedule being a visit to the Korean Consulate General in Da Nang to discuss cooperation and exchange plans with Da Nang City.

On December 13, the mayor will attend the opening ceremony of the 'Yong-in Public Digital Library,' which was created by Yong-in Special City through an ODA project, located within the International Lotus Village Association in Guang Fu District, Da Nang.

The city has been promoting the establishment of a library in Da Nang (formerly Tam Ky, Quang Nam Province) as part of its ODA project for economic development and welfare improvement in developing countries, in accordance with the "Ordinance on Promotion of Internationalization and International Exchange and Cooperation of Yong-in City." The city has allocated 200 million won in budget for the library construction following final approval by the International Development Cooperation Committee in 2024.

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

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

On December 14, the mayor will meet with Pham Duc An, Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, at Da Nang City Hall to sign a friendly cooperation agreement between Yong-in Special City and Da Nang City.

This agreement is being concluded to succeed and expand existing exchange and cooperation relations following Vietnam's administrative reorganization last July, which integrated Quang Nam Province—with which Yong-in Special City established friendly cooperation in 2013—into Da Nang Central Direct-controlled City.

Through the agreement, both cities plan to continue exchanges 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 fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and information technology (IT).

Da Nang City has shown great interest in Yong-in Special City, where the world's largest-scale semiconductor investment project is underway, and is known to be exploring cooperation methods related to semiconductors.

On the final day, December 15, Mayor Lee will visit Da Nang High-tech Park Industrial Complex to inquire about the status of industrial complex development and operations, exchange views on policies for fostering advanced industries and attracting businesses, and then conclude the official schedule before returning home.

Mayor Lee Sang-il stated, "It is very meaningful for Yong-in Special City to build a library in another country through its first-ever ODA project, providing assistance to local youth and residents, and it is also an endeavor that elevates the international standing of Yong-in Special City."

The mayor added, "The library construction has served as an opportunity to further develop friendly cooperation between Yong-in Special City and Da Nang City. While Da Nang is well known as a tourist city, it has recently expanded investments in fostering advanced industries such as semiconductors and AI, research facilities, and human resource development. Given that it is showing interest in Yong-in City, which is building the world's largest semiconductor ecosystem, I plan to discuss through this visit how cooperation between the two cities can be achieved in the advanced industry sector."