Jinju City Draws Attention with Visit from Tourrettes, France Officials

Continued Exchange Following Friendship Agreement
Exploring Ways to Expand Cultural Visits and Art Exchanges

Jinju City in South Gyeongsang Province announced on the 13th that Deputy Mayor Sebastien Moreau of Tourrettes, France, and other officials visited Jinju. Last year, Jinju and Tourrettes signed a letter of intent to foster friendship and exchange between the two cities.

This visit was organized to celebrate the opening of Jinju's signature Namgang Yudeung Festival and to explore ways to expand art exchanges between the two cities, as well as to tour major cultural and artistic infrastructure.

On October 4, Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il and Tourrettes Deputy Mayor Sebastien Moreau drew attention by holding a meeting at Jungyeong in Jinjuseong Fortress.

"Congratulations on the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival" Photo of officials from Tourette City, France visiting Jinju.

At the meeting, Mayor Jo expressed his gratitude for the introduction of Jinju's tourism mascot "Hamo," decorated with 4,000 violet flowers, and the city's signature "Yudeung" at the Tourrettes Violet Festival (Fete des Violettes) in March this year. He also thanked the Tourrettes officials for their efforts to safely transport artist Lee Seongja's "Easel" from France to Jinju in July, and promised continued cooperation.

In response, Deputy Mayor Sebastien Moreau thanked Mayor Jo for sending a congratulatory video and for the attendance of Jinju’s outstanding public officials at the plaque unveiling ceremony, which celebrated the designation of artist Lee Seongja’s atelier as a "Notable Contemporary Architectural Work" by the French government.

During their stay, the delegation directly experienced Jinju's representative cultural and tourism events, including attending the lighting ceremony of the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival. They also visited major cultural facilities in Jinju, such as the Jinju City Lee Seongja Art Museum, the K-Entrepreneurship Center, the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Exhibition Hall, and the Bronze Age Museum, where they discussed areas for potential cooperation.

Furthermore, through meetings with the Jinju branch of the Korean Fine Arts Association and the Lee Seongja Art Museum Supporters’ Association, the delegation held in-depth discussions on ways to facilitate exchanges with local artists. Both cities reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening practical cooperation, particularly through ongoing art exchanges and joint exhibitions.

Mayor Jo Gyu-il and Deputy Mayor Sebastien Moreau stated, "We expect this visit to further invigorate cultural and artistic exchanges between Jinju and Tourrettes, France. We hope that the two cities will deepen their understanding of each other's cultures and achieve mutual development through art."