On August 25, Jan Grolich, Governor of South Moravia in the Czech Republic, who established a friendship agreement with the Gyeongnam delegation during their business trip to Eastern Europe last year, paid an official visit to the Gyeongnam Provincial Office.
According to Gyeongnam Province, Governor Park Wansu and Governor Jan Grolich held a friendly meeting at the provincial office to discuss ways to expand practical cooperation between the two regions.
Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province (left) and Jan Grolich, Governor of South Moravia in the Czech Republic, are taking a photo together in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Office entrance. Photo by Gyeongnam Province
At the meeting, Governor Park expressed his gratitude, saying, "I would like to thank you once again for the warm welcome extended to the Gyeongnam delegation during our visit to South Moravia last year."
He continued, "I hope that this visit will serve as an opportunity for our two regions to build a strong partnership and achieve joint development in various fields, including industry, culture, tourism, and education."
Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (far left), is talking with the delegation from South Moravia, Czech Republic. Provided by Gyeongnam Province
In particular, Governor Park highlighted, "It was a very meaningful case of cooperation that companies from both regions jointly operated a promotional booth at 'JEC WORLD 2025,' the world's largest composite materials exhibition held in Paris, France, last March." He added, "Given that the Czech Republic is a strategic partner and a key economic cooperation country for South Korea, I also look forward to future industrial cooperation, including the Dukovany nuclear power plant project."
He further stated, "Gyeongnam Province will spare no administrative support for Doosan Enerbility's local participation," and requested continued cooperation.
Jan Grolich, governor of South Moravia in the Czech Republic (far right), is visiting the Gyeongnam Provincial Office and having a friendly conversation. Courtesy of Gyeongnam Province
Governor Jan Grolich remarked, "Cooperation with Gyeongnam Province is a great opportunity for South Moravia as well," and added, "I hope that we can achieve joint development for both regions through practical exchanges in the future."
This visit is in return for Governor Park's visit to the Czech Republic in August last year, and it also marks the first visit to Gyeongnam by a Czech governor.
The South Moravian delegation led by Governor Jan Grolich consists of 12 members, including First Deputy Governor Jiri Ctrha, Deputy Governor Marek Sovka, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and business representatives.
Before visiting the Gyeongnam Provincial Office, the delegation visited Doosan Enerbility, a local company specializing in the manufacture of major nuclear power plant equipment. They will stay in Gyeongnam until August 27.
On August 26, their schedule includes a tour of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, sightseeing on the Sacheon Marine Cable Car, and visits to Gyeongsang National University and the Gyeongnam Culture and Arts Center in Jinju, before departing for Seoul on August 27 for their return flight.
Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province and related officials from Gyeongnam Province, along with Governor Jan Grolich and the delegation from the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, are taking a commemorative photo together. Photo by Gyeongnam Province
South Moravia in the Czech Republic is a region densely populated with various industries, including manufacturing sectors such as engineering, automotive, machinery, and electronics, which are also key industries in Gyeongnam.
It is also a cultural hub, home to world-renowned artists such as Alfons Mucha and Milan Kundera, and boasts UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape and the Tugendhat Villa in Brno.
Gyeongnam Province and the Czech Republic began exchanges in 2015 with the visit of the Czech Prime Minister, building a relationship of trust over the past 10 years.
In August last year, the relationship was elevated from 'friendly exchange,' a stage of mutual cooperation, to a 'friendship agreement,' the highest level under Gyeongnam Province's ordinance on public diplomacy and international exchange and cooperation.
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