Gyeonggi-do, 'Policy Public Diplomacy' for Japanese Officials

Gyeonggi Province organized an event to promote provincial administration to Japanese public officials working in local governments and related organizations within the province.

From the 23rd to the 24th, Gyeonggi Province conducted a promotional session targeting 15 individuals, including members of the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Korea, the Seoul offices of the Tohoku 3 Prefectures and Hokkaido, the Miyagi Prefecture Seoul office, and public officials dispatched from various local governments.

These Japanese public officials have resided in Korea for over a year, possess a high level of understanding of Korea, and show great interest in Korean culture and policies. It is expected that, based on the increased favorability and support for Gyeonggi Province gained through this visit, they will play a significant role as a bridge for the development of bilateral relations after returning to their home country.

Gyeonggi Province introduced key projects of the 8th term of the elected government, including the ‘Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Project’ and the ‘Gyeonggi Northern Special Self-Governing Province,’ and held a session for exchanging various opinions. The Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Project is a Gyeonggi-style urban regeneration initiative focused on revitalizing old downtown areas and improving residents’ quality of life by encouraging resident communities to propose diverse ideas suited to local conditions. The Gyeonggi Northern Special Self-Governing Province is a project promoted by the province to address issues such as regulatory, financial, and infrastructure shortages in northern Gyeonggi, with ongoing efforts to enact a special law.

Gyeonggi Province held a briefing session on Gyeonggi Province administration for Japanese government officials stationed in Korea. Japanese government officials attending the briefing session are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

Following this, the visiting group inspected Paju Imjingak Peace Nuri Park and Camp Greaves, which have unique geographical and historical characteristics, and participated in a security experience session.

Earlier, Gyeonggi Province also facilitated a field visit for Chinese public officials from Shandong Province dispatched within the province, promoting policies related to economic and industrial technology sectors such as the Free Economic Zone Authority, Agricultural Technology Center, and Samsung Mobility Museum, as well as cultural tourism sectors including Icheon Ceramics Village, Gapyeong Swiss Village, and Pyeongtaek International Market.

Kim Seong-won, Director of the International Cooperation Policy Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We expect to enhance the image of Gyeonggi Province and activate networks among public officials from China and Japan, who rank first and second among visitors to Korea, through policy public diplomacy." He added, "We plan to solidify Gyeonggi Province’s position as a hub for mutual development in the Asian region and international exchange."