Creating an Atmosphere of Integration
and Enhancing Resident Convenience
Mokpo City, South Jeolla Province (Mayor Park Hongryul) announced on the 18th that on the 17th, together with Shinan County, it signed the "Mokpo-Shinan Win-Win Cooperation Project Business Agreement" at the Mokpo City Hall situation room, attended by 26 people including the heads of both local governments and relevant department officials.
The city has so far adopted 24 win-win cooperation projects to foster an atmosphere of integration with Shinan County and to improve residents' convenience, and has made active efforts to promote these projects. Through this business agreement, both Mokpo and Shinan have secured the implementation of the win-win cooperation projects, and it is expected that this agreement will greatly contribute to establishing an administrative cooperation system for the integration of Mokpo and Shinan.
At the signing ceremony, the two parties agreed on 24 projects in four major areas: ▲projects to improve resident welfare and daily convenience ▲joint development of tourism resources and linked tourism projects ▲cooperation projects to revitalize the local economy ▲promotion of private exchanges.
Park Hongryul, Mayor of Mokpo, and Park Wuryang, County Governor of Sinan, are signing a business agreement for the Mokpo-Sinan win-win cooperation project and taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Mokpo City
Depending on the timeline, the projects will be classified and promoted as either those that can be implemented immediately or as long-term projects that require gradual progress and institutional improvements.
The "Resident Welfare and Daily Convenience Improvement Project" consists of 10 initiatives aimed at enhancing residents' cultural, welfare, and daily convenience. Among them, the "Expansion of One Cremation Furnace at Mokpo City Crematorium and Introduction of a Priority Reservation System" was promoted to guarantee convenience for Mokpo citizens and alleviate the inconvenience experienced by Shinan residents regarding the four-day market. Mokpo City completed the expansion of one cremation furnace in December last year and has been operating the Mokpo-Shinan Crematorium Priority Reservation System since the 7th of this month.
Additionally, to strengthen tourism competitiveness, Mokpo and Shinan are promoting the "Joint Development of Tourism Resources and Linked Tourism Projects," including the "Development of Mokpo-Shinan Tourism Package Products and Integrated Marketing." They are also working to allow local residents to use paid tourist attractions in both areas at resident rates. In particular, with this agreement, Shinan residents can now use the Mokpo Marine Cable Car and Mokpo Samhakdo Cruise at Mokpo citizen prices.
Furthermore, cooperation projects for mutual development of the local economy are being continuously promoted, such as the "Purchase of Shinan Eco-friendly Agricultural Products for Mokpo School Meal Support Center," which aims to increase the income of Shinan farmers and improve the health of Mokpo students.
In addition, the "Promotion of Private Exchange Activation" will be actively continued to expand voluntary exchanges among various groups, including senior citizens' associations, organizations for people with disabilities, fisheries associations, rural leaders' associations, women's associations, and youth organizations.
Mayor Park Hongryul stated, "In an era of population decline, integration is an essential task to give hope to future generations and strengthen regional competitiveness," and added, "I hope that through this agreement, both Mokpo and Shinan will build ongoing trust and achieve successful integration."
He further emphasized, "Beyond Mokpo and Shinan, win-win cooperation will be expanded to the entire Muan Peninsula, and ultimately, by achieving integration of the Muan Peninsula, we will leap forward as a greater hub city in the southwest region."
Shinan County Governor Park Woorang said, "With today's agreement, we have been able to specifically identify and promise cooperation on the issues and inconveniences that existed under the surface between Shinan and Mokpo," and added, "We will actively support mutual exchanges so that Shinan residents and Mokpo citizens can become closer, and we will proceed with the integration process in step with the residents."
Meanwhile, both Mokpo and Shinan plan to continue regular discussions by institutionalizing the "Mokpo-Shinan Win-Win Cooperation Project Working-Level Council," a practical organization for win-win cooperation projects, on a quarterly basis, and will continue to discover additional cooperation projects.
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