Yangjae 1-dong in Seocho and Cheorwon-eup Sign Sisterhood Agreement for Urban-Rural Cooperation

Promoting Exchanges in Culture, Tourism, and Local Agricultural Specialties

Yangjae 1-dong in Seocho-gu, Seoul (headed by District Mayor Jeon Seongsu) and Cheorwon-eup in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do signed a sisterhood agreement on July 23 to promote mutually beneficial development between urban and rural areas. The two districts have agreed to establish a continuous cooperative system across a wide range of fields, including culture, tourism, local agricultural specialties, and the economy.

Commemorative photo of the agreement ceremony. Provided by Seocho-gu.

The signing ceremony, held at the Durumi Peace Center in Cheorwon-eup, was attended by Gong Jushik, Chair of the Yangjae 1-dong Residents' Autonomy Committee, committee members, relevant public officials, Jo Hyodong, Chair of the Cheorwon-eup Village Leaders' Association, members of the association, and local representatives. The participants agreed to cooperate in building consensus, sharing best administrative practices for community development, and expanding exchanges in the economic, cultural, and tourism sectors.

This agreement was especially significant as it was held in commemoration of "Urban-Rural Exchange Day," designated annually on July 7. During the ceremony, a promotional video highlighting Seocho-gu's flagship policies?such as the Seoripul Music Festival, the Yangjae AI Special Zone, smart city initiatives, and the creation of a cultural belt?was screened and received a positive response from Cheorwon-eup officials.

As follow-up measures, the two organizations plan to expand direct transactions of local specialties, develop joint tourism programs, and exchange various cultural events. In particular, Yangjae 1-dong will officially invite Cheorwon-eup to participate in the Seoripul Music Festival, which will be held in the Banpodaero area this September, marking the first step in their cultural exchange.

Gong Jushik, Chair of the Yangjae 1-dong Residents' Autonomy Committee, stated, "I hope this agreement will provide practical benefits to residents of both regions and serve as an opportunity for joint development." Jo Hyodong, Chair of the Cheorwon-eup Village Leaders' Association, responded, "We will develop a variety of ideas to enable cities and rural areas to thrive together and achieve tangible progress."

Meanwhile, Yangjae 1-dong has been leading the way in urban-rural cooperation by actively engaging in exchanges with rural areas, including forming sisterhood ties with Buk-myeon in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province in 2006 and Songsan-myeon in Hwaseong-si in 2016.