Korea-Japan 8 Provincial Governors Hold First Video Conference in 28 Years... Concerns Over Japan's Nuclear Wastewater Discharge

Governor Kim Kyung-soo, "Core Value in the Post-COVID-19 Era is Solidarity"

Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo is presiding over a video conference with governors from eight cities and provinces along the Korea-Japan Strait.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju Cheol-in] The 29th “2020 Korea-Japan Strait Coastal Provinces and Prefectures Governors’ Meeting” was held as a video conference for the first time in 28 years.

Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, who presided over the meeting, said in his opening remarks, “It is very meaningful and significant that the meeting, which started in 1992, has not been interrupted despite the global crisis of COVID-19 and has been held at least through video.”

He continued, “I welcome the special entry procedures for businesspeople that have been implemented since the 8th, after nearly seven months of entry restrictions between Korea and Japan, and I hope that mutual exchanges between local governments will become more active.”

The meeting was attended by all eight member provincial governors, including Governor Kim; Byun Sung-wan, Acting Mayor of Busan on the Korean side; Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province; Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province; and on the Japanese side, Hiroshi Ogawa, Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture; Yoshinori Yamaguchi, Governor of Saga Prefecture; Hodo Nakamura, Governor of Nagasaki Prefecture; and Tsugumasa Muraoka, Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The meeting shared COVID-19 response cases and discussed current issues through agenda presentations and free discussions from the eight provinces and prefectures.

Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who was the last agenda presenter, introduced Gyeongnam Province’s proactive response measures such as video conferences with 18 cities and counties in Gyeongnam, close cooperation with local medical staff, and strengthened collaboration with the education office, emphasizing that “the core values of the post-COVID-19 era are solidarity and cooperation,” and that governance with citizens is essential and key.

During the free discussion time, there was a discussion on cooperation methods between local governments in preparation for the post-COVID-19 era, exchange of information related to COVID-19, sharing of information on measures by provinces and prefectures in case of future disasters and emergencies, and consensus on the need to strengthen international exchange cooperation.

During the discussion, Governor Won Hee-ryong, Governor Kim Young-rok, and Acting Mayor Byun Sung-wan conveyed the concerns of Koreans regarding the discharge of water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and the Japanese side explained that careful discussion is necessary and that there are opposing opinions within their country.

Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who presided over the meeting, also pointed out, “I hope that the Japanese governors will convey well to the Japanese government the great concern Koreans have about the contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.”

After the discussion, the eight provincial governors confirmed their consensus on crisis response such as COVID-19 and announced a joint statement containing a resolution to seek new international exchange methods and further strengthen cooperation based on this.

In his closing remarks, Governor Kim said, “Through today’s meeting, we were able to confirm why close solidarity between Korean and Japanese local governments is necessary in the post-COVID-19 era,” and added, “I will prepare well for the meeting to be held in Gyeongnam next year to mark the 30th anniversary of the exchange meeting, making it a meaningful occasion to further strengthen cooperation between local governments of the two countries.”