"400 Years of Korea-China Friendship, Firmly Strengthening the Promise of Future Partnership"
Attending Jinlin Cultural Festival, Discussing Ways to Promote Exchanges in Youth, Sports, and Various Other Fields
Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do is expanding the 400-year friendship between Korea and China, which began with the Battle of Myeongnyang, into a driving force for future development and friendly cooperation.
According to the county on the 8th, on the 7th, a visit was made to Yun'an District, Yunfu City, Guangdong Province, China, where a friendship exchange agreement was signed between Haenam-gun and Yun'an District, and various measures to revitalize exchanges in youth, sports, culture, and other fields between the two cities were discussed.
At the signing ceremony attended by Kim Cha-jin, Deputy Governor of Haenam, and Shi Weiguocai (??才), Head of Yun'an District, both counties and districts agreed to promote joint development by carrying out exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as industry, culture, tourism, sports, education, and administration, and to support mutual prosperity between the two cities.
Visited Yunfu City, Yun'an District, Guangdong Province, China, and signed a friendship exchange agreement between Haenam County and Yun'an District. [Photo by Haenam County]
In particular, they agreed to strengthen cooperation to continuously explore directions for joint development of historical culture through research on General Chen Lin, who participated as the naval commander of the Ming Dynasty during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1597?1598).
This agreement was prepared to develop the friendship between General Chen Lin, who was dispatched as a naval commander during the Japanese invasions of Korea (August 1597 to December 1598) and fought alongside Admiral Yi Sun-sin to repel the Japanese forces, into a future of shared prosperity.
Yun'an District, with a population of 340,000, is the place where General Chen Lin grew up. It houses General Chen Lin’s shrine and historic sites, and the Chen Lin Cultural Research Association is actively engaged in commemorative projects.
In this regard, the 1st Chen Lin Cultural Festival was held on the 7th and 8th to commemorate the birth of General Chen Lin, with attendance at the signing ceremony and festival commemorative events.
Haenam-gun has maintained steady exchanges with Yongyuan County, Guangdong Province, the birthplace of General Chen Lin, since establishing a sister city relationship in 1999. With the recent agreement with Yun'an District, the scope of Korea-China friendly cooperation, mediated by the friendship between Admiral Yi Sun-sin of the Battle of Myeongnyang and General Chen Lin, is further expanded.
General Chen Lin was appointed as the naval commander of the Ming Dynasty when the need to dispatch naval forces arose after the outbreak of the Japanese invasions of Korea. In 1598, he formed a joint front with Admiral Yi Sun-sin and led the victory at the Battle of Noryang.
In Hwangjo Village, Sanim-myeon, Haenam-gun, descendants of General Chen Lin have migrated and settled according to his will, forming a clan village of the Guangdong Jin family. The Hwangjo Byeolmyo, General Chen Lin’s shrine, is located there and has become a symbol of Korea-China friendly cooperation.
Deputy Governor Kim Cha-jin said, “We thank Head Shi Weiguocai of Yun'an District and all related parties for inviting and warmly welcoming the Haenam delegation. Through this friendship exchange agreement, we hope to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries and achieve practical results in various areas such as cultural experiences for youth and exchanges in community sports.”
Shi Weiguocai, Head of Yun'an District, responded, “We are pleased to join Haenam-gun on this journey toward the future. We hope to grow closer in various fields continuously through academic research on Chen Lin’s culture and promotion of cultural exchanges.”
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