Korean and Japanese Local Leaders to Meet This Second Half of the Year for the First Time in Over 6 Years

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Amid the improving atmosphere in Korea-Japan relations, the heads of metropolitan local governments from both countries will meet for the first time in six years in the second half of this year.

According to the Council of Governors on the 29th, Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province and chairman, met with Hirai Shinji, Chairman of the Japan National Governors' Association (Governor of Tottori Prefecture), in Tokyo on the 27th and agreed to hold the '7th Korea-Japan Governors' Meeting' in the second half of this year.

Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo, chairman of the Council of Governors, is shaking hands with Shinji Hirai, chairman of the Japan National Governors' Association (Governor of Tottori Prefecture), in Tokyo on the 27th. Chairman Lee and Chairman Hirai agreed to hold the "7th Korea-Japan Governors' Meeting" in the second half of this year, the first in six years.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korea-Japan Governors' Meeting was launched in 1999 to promote exchanges between local governments of the two countries. It involves 17 metropolitan governors from Korea and 47 prefectural governors from Japan.

Since the 6th meeting was held in Busan in 2017, the meeting has not been held for about six years due to deteriorating bilateral relations and COVID-19. The 7th meeting is planned to be held in Japan, with the date and location to be decided later.

After assuming the chairmanship of the Council of Governors in August last year, Chairman Lee proposed the resumption of the meeting to Chairman Hirai. The Japan National Governors' Association decided to hold the Korea-Japan Governors' Meeting at its general assembly in November of the same year.

Chairman Lee said, "Korea-Japan local governments must pool their wisdom and join forces to solve pressing issues such as low birth rates, regional innovation, and climate change," adding, "We must share common goals and agendas to form a solid cooperative relationship that will not be shaken by changes in the external environment."