Successful Youth Cultural Exchange Between Yongsan-gu and Yeongdong-gun Sister Cities

First Youth Cultural Exchange Since the 2021 Facility Activation Agreement

25 Participants from Yongsan-gu and 25 from Yeongdong-gun Explore Various Local Cultures Together

Yeongdong-gun Youth Scheduled to Visit Yongsan-gu for Cultural Exchange in November This Year

On the 25th, program participants are touring the Wine Korea facility.

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Park Hee-young) conducted a youth cultural exchange program over two days, on the 25th and 26th, in collaboration with its sister city, Yeongdong-gun.

This is the first youth cultural exchange between Yongsan-gu and Yeongdong-gun. Since the 2021 sister city mutual facility activation agreement, activities had been restricted due to COVID-19.

A total of 50 youths (25 from Yongsan-gu and 25 from Yeongdong-gun) participated in this cultural exchange. Notably, the district recruited participants in cooperation with the Yongsan Education Welfare Center (Director Park Soo-mi). The selected youths were from low-income, multicultural, and foreign families who have fewer opportunities for travel and cultural experiences during school vacations, highlighting a focus on welfare improvement for vulnerable groups.

The participating students visited Wine Korea, a domestic wine manufacturing company, where they experienced wine foot baths and toured the production process. They also shared unique experiences not easily accessible in the city, such as exploring wine caves, making fruit chocolates, water play, and traditional Korean music (gugak) experiences.

One foreign student shared, “My parents are not fluent in Korean, and opportunities to leave Seoul were rare, so through this trip, I was happy to experience various aspects of Korea and meet many new friends.”

In November this year, youths from Yeongdong-gun will visit Yongsan-gu. They plan to utilize local infrastructure such as the National Museum of Korea and Yongsan History Museum for cultural experiences.

Mayor Park Hee-young of Yongsan-gu said, “I am pleased that through the sister city agreement, youths can communicate culturally without regional boundaries. We will continue to strive to activate exchanges using cultural and tourism resources between domestic and international sister cities.”

Yongsan-gu has a total of 16 sister cities (12 domestic and 4 international). Among these, in 2021, agreements were signed with 8 domestic sister cities to promote mutual use of operating facilities. Yongsan residents receive benefits such as discounts on admission fees and accommodation when visiting sister cities. Residents of sister cities can also use the Jeju Youth Hostel operated by the district at a 50% discounted rate, the same as Yongsan residents.

Domestic Sister Cities (12): Dangjin-si, Chungnam; Cheongju-si, Chungbuk; Seogwipo-si, Jeju; Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam; Yeongdong-gun, Chungbuk; Damyang-gun, Jeonnam; Jecheon-si, Chungbuk; Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon; Sangju-si, Gyeongbuk; Boseong-gun, Jeonnam; Goseong-gun, Gangwon; Iksan-si, Jeonbuk

International Sister Cities (4): Suzhou, China; Fergana, Uzbekistan; Sacramento, USA; Qui Nhon, Vietnam