Seongnam City Council Visits Mungyeong City Council

Symbolic Connection by KTX
A New Model for Win-Win Cooperation Between Local Councils

Members of the Seongnam City Council in Gyeonggi Province visited the Mungyeong City Council, reaffirming their commitment to win-win cooperation between local councils.

Members of the Seongnam City Council in Gyeonggi Province visited the Mungyeong City Council in Gyeongsangbuk Province to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two cities connected by the KTX.

This meeting went beyond simple exchange, drawing attention as it presented a new model for the development of local autonomy, based on the symbolism of "two cities connected by the KTX."

The Seongnam City Council delegation, including Vice Chair Ahn Gwangrim (acting as Chair) and other council members, visited the Mungyeong City Council on the 27th as part of their three-day summer training program.

They shared exemplary ordinances and policy cases from the Mungyeong City Council and explored ways to collaborate. In particular, the "Mungyeong City Integrated Nursing Care Service Support Ordinance" and the nation's first policy of making all city buses free of charge were major topics of discussion.

Jin Hujin, Vice Chair of the Mungyeong City Council, stated, "With the opening of the Mungyeong-Pangyo KTX line, the physical distance between us has been reduced, and our legislative cooperation has become even closer." He emphasized, "Since the sisterhood agreement was signed in March, the ongoing exchanges between the two councils are not just ceremonial visits, but a process moving toward genuine collaborative governance among local councils."

In addition to their exchange with the Mungyeong City Council, the Seongnam City Council delegation visited major institutions such as the Mungyeong Tourism Corporation to directly observe the regional development strategies being pursued by Mungyeong City.

A representative from the Seongnam City Council commented, "Although Seongnam, a large city, and Mungyeong, a mid-sized city, face different administrative conditions and challenges, through exchange and solidarity, we can seek a stronger path for local autonomy."

This meeting is expected to go beyond the abstract slogan of "win-win cooperation between local councils," serving as a testing ground for local autonomy by enhancing the competitiveness of both cities through the exchange of systems and policies.