Jogyuil Jinju Mayor Invited to US Independence Day Event at US Consulate General in Busan

Cheers to the Global Expansion of 'K-Entrepreneurship'

Jinju City in Gyeongnam announced on the 7th that Mayor Cho Gyu-il was invited to and attended a reception commemorating the United States Independence Day (July 4th) held by the U.S. Consulate General in Busan.

Nolan Barkhouse, the U.S. Consul General in Busan, was invited to the opening ceremony of the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival last year and participated in the lantern festival harmonized with the beautiful Namgang River. Due to his interest in Jinju City's festival and K-entrepreneurship, he invited Mayor Cho Gyu-il.

Mayor Jo Gyu-il attended the US Independence Day event at the Consulate General of the United States in Busan.

The reception was held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Busan, beginning with Consul General Nolan Barkhouse greeting the attendees, followed by a welcoming speech from Charg? d'Affaires Joy Sakurai of the U.S. Embassy in Korea, and congratulatory remarks from Shin Jae-hyun, Director of International Relations of Busan City.

In particular, Mayor Cho, who on the 27th of last month promoted "Jinju, the capital of Korean entrepreneurship" to the world at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, proposed a toast, receiving great applause.

In his toast, Mayor Cho said, "Congratulations on the 247th anniversary of the United States Independence Day," and added, "Jinju's K-entrepreneurship, which respects human dignity, will create new values for humanity in the 21st century and become a ladder of hope leading to a better tomorrow." He proposed a toast to the entrepreneurship of both the United States and the Republic of Korea.

Additionally, at the event, Mayor Cho met with Otsuka Tsuyoshi, Consul General of Japan in Busan, who visited Jinju City in June, and continued discussions on exchange cooperation and mutual development between Jinju City and Japan.

Meanwhile, Jinju City was the first local government in the Republic of Korea to establish a sister city relationship with Eugene, USA, in 1961, and has maintained active exchanges with unwavering friendship for 62 years. From July 22 to August 16, a youth homestay program will be conducted to support cultural exchange between the youths of the two countries.