Mayor Lee Donghwan: "Goyang Will Be Established as a Central City for Global Local Governments"

Goyang City, One Week Until "UCLG ASPAC Goyang General Assembly"
Opening at KINTEX on the 24th: Local Government Leaders Gather
Participation from 220 Cities in 22 Asia-Pacific Countries
In-Depth Discussions on Job Creation, Youth Leadership, and More
City: "Global Attention Focused on Goyang"

The "2025 10th United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) Goyang General Assembly," to be held in Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan), is just one week away.

Poster for the 10th UCLG ASPAC Goyang General Assembly. Provided by Goyang Special City

The UCLG ASPAC, scheduled to take place from September 24 to 26 at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1, will be attended by approximately 500 mayors and delegates from 220 cities across 22 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The city is conducting final inspections of its preparations in areas such as transportation, accommodation, amenities, and medical services. It is also strengthening its safety management by establishing a cooperative system with related agencies, including the police and fire departments.

On the first day of the assembly, September 24, thematic discussion sessions will be held in various locations starting in the morning. The Culture Committee, hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, will discuss cultural exchanges among member cities, directions for cultural policy development, and cooperation with UNESCO. The Women Standing Committee of Local Governments, jointly organized by UCLG ASPAC and Guangzhou, China, will share business plans for the next two years and regional activity cases. In addition, the HDP Nexus (Humanitarian-Development-Peace Linkage) Committee, led by Gyeonggi Province, will focus on the role of local governments in responding to climate change.

In the afternoon, the "Local Government Leaders Roundtable" will be held. Based on the UCLG ASPAC 2026-2030 roadmap, participants will share innovative policy cases from each city and explore practical measures for intercity cooperation.

At 4 p.m., a commemorative tree-planting ceremony will take place at Ilsan Lake Park, where participants will plant a white pine, the official tree of Goyang City, to strengthen solidarity and friendship among cities. This will be followed by the official welcome dinner at KINTEX at 6 p.m., featuring a performance by Kim Deoksu Samulnori and a K-POP stage by Goyang City's representative street dance crew Earthquake, blending Korea's traditional and contemporary culture.

Signing ceremony of the Letter of Intent for Cooperation at the 10th UCLG ASPAC Goyang General Assembly. Provided by Goyang Special City

On the second day, September 25, the official forum will begin with the opening ceremony at 9 a.m. Key domestic and international figures, including Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, Dakila Carlo Cua, President of UCLG ASPAC, Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City and next UCLG World President, and Ko Youngin, Vice Governor for Economy of Gyeonggi Province, are expected to attend. The event will also feature celebratory performances, such as North Korean and Buchaechum (fan dance) performances and a Taekwondo demonstration.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, the main forum will be held at 11 a.m. under the theme "Sustainable Global Self-Sufficient Cities and Regions for the Future." UN Special Envoy Jean Todt will present a vision through a video keynote speech, while Gao Jin, Vice Mayor of Yiwu, China, and Daria Turley, Vice Chair of the Australian Local Government Association, will lead the forum. Participants will share successful cases in renewable energy, circular economy, and smart infrastructure, and discuss cooperation and implementation strategies for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In the afternoon, concurrent sub-forums will be held, attended by key figures such as Sara Hoeflich, Deputy Secretary-General of UCLG World, Adam Azim, Mayor of Mal?, Maldives, and Christy Shala Jumi from the Swiss Embassy. The five main topics to be discussed are: ▲Job Creation ▲Youth Leadership ▲Energy Self-Sufficiency ▲Family-Friendly Cities ▲Urban Growth.

The "Job Creation" forum will focus on strengthening urban resilience through sustainable employment, sharing practical experiences and insights. In the "Youth Leadership" session, various cases such as youth councils and mentoring programs will be introduced, and ways to institutionalize youth participation through cooperation among local governments, organizations, and civil society will be explored. The "Energy Self-Sufficiency" session will address urban energy independence and efficiency enhancement through the adoption of renewable energy, and will also present public-private cooperation models.

The "Family-Friendly Cities" forum will discuss practical policies that local governments can implement in all aspects of daily life, including care, education, health, and public spaces. The "Urban Growth" forum will focus on the development of smart cities through the adoption of innovative technologies and infrastructure, and will introduce cases of smart tech implementation in Goyang City.

Goyang Special City Mayor delivering the keynote speech at the main forum of the "2024 2nd UCLG ASPAC Zhengzhou Executive Committee Meeting." Provided by Goyang Special City.

On the final day, September 26, the General Assembly plenary session will be held at 9 a.m. The outcomes of the in-depth discussions and exchanges over the previous two days will be summarized, and the subsequent board meeting will present future directions and a concrete roadmap for cooperation among Asia-Pacific cities.

In the afternoon, a variety of learning sessions will take place. Sessions on "Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs)" and "Urban Mobility" will feature in-depth discussions on responding to climate change and building sustainable urban transportation systems.

Additionally, sessions titled "Partnerships for Local Government Innovation - Women’s Leadership in Local Government" and "Understanding Domestic Migration Due to Climate Change" will bring together participants to develop leading responses by local governments to global issues faced worldwide.

At 6 p.m., a farewell dinner will be held at Sono Calm Hotel. During this event, the "Goyang Special City Declaration," which shares visions for cooperation and the future of the Asia-Pacific region, will be announced.

On the day after the assembly, September 27, a city tour will be offered, allowing participants to experience Goyang City's history, nature, and industry at sites such as Haengju Fortress, Janghang Wetlands, Hyundai Motorstudio, and the Aerospace Museum. The tour has received an enthusiastic response, with registration closing quickly, and the city is making thorough preparations to ensure a safe and pleasant experience.

Met with Bernadia Chandradevi, Secretary-General, to propose Goyang City as the host for the '2023 9th UCLG ASPAC Yiwu General Assembly.' Provided by Goyang Special City.

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, stated, "As this is the first UCLG ASPAC General Assembly independently hosted by a basic local government in Korea, it will establish Goyang as a central city for local government diplomacy on the global stage. We will make every effort to ensure flawless preparations until the very last moment for a successful event."

Meanwhile, detailed program information and the latest updates regarding the "2025 10th United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) Goyang General Assembly" can be found on the official website (https://goyang2025.uclg-aspac.kr).