Mayor Kim Kyoungil Cancels Poland Visit: "Citizen Safety Comes First Amid Monsoon Preparedness"

Paju Delegation Reduced in Size for Poland Visit
'Letter of Intent for Sister City Partnership' to Be Signed as Planned

Kim Kyoungil, Mayor of Paju, has made a sudden decision to cancel his scheduled visit to Bialystok, Poland, on June 19. Instead, he will focus on disaster preparedness, including preemptive on-site inspections of disaster-prone areas, in response to the early northward movement of the monsoon front and the resulting heavy rainfall risks.

Paju City Hall view. Provided by Paju City

This visit to Poland was an important diplomatic event, arranged at the official invitation of Bialystok, with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) for a sister city partnership planned. Traditionally, the attendance of the heads of both local governments is considered essential for such events.

However, due to heightened concerns over potential flood damage in the region caused by the unusually early advance of the monsoon front compared to previous years, the city has shifted to an emergency response system centered on the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. As the highest authority responsible for disaster safety, Mayor Kim determined that he could not leave the site and requested Bialystok's understanding, ultimately deciding to cancel his attendance.

Another important factor in the decision to cancel the Poland visit was the continued attempts by private organizations to send leaflets to North Korea, even after the cessation of loudspeaker broadcasts between the two Koreas. Given the ongoing security uncertainty, it was judged necessary for the mayor to manage the situation directly on-site and to maintain a system capable of immediate response in case of emergency.

With Mayor Kim's decision not to participate in the Poland visit, Paju City reduced the size of its delegation from the original 11 members to 7. The 7-member delegation will visit Bialystok to coincide with the city's annual major cultural festival, where they will sign the Letter of Intent (LOI) for the sister city partnership and discuss practical cooperation measures in various fields, including business, youth, culture, and local administration.

Bialystok is a border city in northeastern Poland, adjacent to the Belarusian border. It is recognized within Europe for its unique urban identity, based on a tradition of multicultural coexistence and sustainable urban policies. In November last year, Tadeusz Truskolaski, Mayor of Bialystok, sent a letter to Paju City proposing a sister city relationship, initiating exchanges between the two cities. In January this year, Mayor Kim was officially invited to the "Day of Bialystok" event, further solidifying the foundation of friendship between the cities.

The two cities have coordinated this visit through ongoing exchanges and consultations between working-level officials. This on-site visit is expected to serve as a starting point for practical cooperation, focusing not on formal diplomatic protocol but on the shared values of peace and coexistence between border cities.

Lee Sungkeun, Director of Administration and Safety, stated, "Although it has become difficult for the mayor to participate directly, this is a responsible decision made entirely to protect the lives and safety of our citizens." He added, "Through this delegation, we will not only sign the Letter of Intent (LOI) for the sister city partnership, but also expand our cooperative network with European cities and further strengthen Paju City's urban diplomacy capabilities."