"Expecting Cooperation Through Active Communication"... Also Promoting Sisterhood Partnership
Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, met on the 17th with a delegation from the Economic Development Authority of Fairfax County, Virginia, USA, who visited the city hall to discuss exchange plans.
Fairfax County, with a population of 1.2 million, is adjacent to the capital Washington D.C. and is densely populated with government agencies. It is especially known as the "Silicon Valley of the East" due to its developed science and technology industries and transportation, with about 10,000 information technology (IT) companies operating there. Prestigious public schools such as Thomas Jefferson High School and George Mason University are also located here.
Lee Sang-il (right), Mayor of Yongin, presents a commemorative plaque to David Kelly, Deputy Director of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in Virginia, USA, who visited the city hall on the 17th. [Photo by Yongin City]
The economic delegation's visit to Korea aims to activate exchanges with Korea through seminars and meetings between companies. The city explained that Yongin was selected as the only local government to visit, recognizing its international status and urban competitiveness.
Mayor Lee explained to David Kelly, Deputy Director of the Economic Development Authority of Fairfax County, Brian Han, Director of Global Cooperation, and Charles Kim, Marketing Director, about the ultra-large semiconductor project worth 502 trillion won underway in Yongin, including the advanced system semiconductor national industrial complex, Yongin semiconductor cluster, and Samsung Electronics future research complex, as well as the current industrial status, Yongin’s future vision, and international exchanges with foreign countries.
Mayor Lee also shared the news of the sister city agreement with Williamson County, Texas, last month, saying, "Foreign companies and cities are showing great interest in Yongin, and Yongin is also strengthening networking with overseas cities." He added, introducing his past experience living locally as a foreign correspondent, "Fairfax County and Yongin have many similarities and comparable city sizes, so it would be good to communicate and establish a good cooperative relationship."
Deputy Director Kelly responded, "Yongin is the only Korean local government we are visiting on this trip," and expressed a desire to actively engage in exchanges. Earlier this month, the city also sent a letter expressing its intention for a sister city relationship to Fairfax County to promote international exchanges.
Meanwhile, 412 foreign companies from 45 countries operate corporations in Fairfax County. About 70 Korean companies and institutions, including Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, Korea Intellectual Property Information Service, Hanwha Aerospace, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Golfzon, and Starkist, are also active there.
Following the meeting with Mayor Lee, the delegation also met with officials from the Yongin City Industrial Promotion Agency to discuss ways to support the revitalization of the local IT industry.
A city official stated, "In May, a delegation from Osceola County, Florida, USA, and in September, a delegation from the Swedish Parliament’s Health and Welfare Committee visited Yongin City, showing interest in semiconductor policies and benchmarking excellent city policies such as the city’s AI care services," adding, "We are realizing that Yongin’s international status is rising."
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