Osan City and Namwon City in North Jeolla Province Sign Sister City Agreement

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Lee Soo-won] Osan City has entered into a sister city agreement with Namwon City in North Jeolla Province and committed to strengthening cooperation for people exchange and mutual development.

Both cities held a sister city agreement ceremony at the Osan City Hall situation room on the 23rd.

The ceremony was attended by approximately 40 people, including Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae, Osan City Council Speaker Lee Sang-bok, Namwon Mayor Choi Gyeong-sik, Namwon City Council Speaker Kim Young-tae and Vice Speaker, civic organization leaders, and relevant officials from both local governments.

Namwon City in North Jeolla Province is a historic city well known as the hometown of the Chunhyang legend, possessing deep traditions and abundant cultural heritage. In particular, it is garnering attention as a must-visit destination for travelers seeking to explore culture and history through diverse events such as the Chunhyang Culture Festival and the Yocheon Riverside Cherry Blossom Festival, as well as distinctive local cuisine and special products.

At the ceremony, Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae said in his remarks: "Through this sister city agreement, I hope it will become a foundation for mutual development through material and people exchange projects such as promotion of special products from both cities and discount benefits for tourist attractions," and added, "I look forward to understanding and consensus being formed between the two cities, leading to improved quality of life for residents."

Namwon Mayor Choi Gyeong-sik stated: "I wish that under the vision of a future city, Osan City, an economic city realizing a population of 500,000 and economic self-sufficiency, and Namwon City, a cultural city rich in tourism resources, will complement each other through their respective strengths and bloom the beautiful flower of mutual development."

Starting with this sister city agreement, Osan City plans to negotiate direct-trading market operations for local specialties between the two local governments and discount benefits for tourist attraction admissions for citizens of sister cities to facilitate active people exchange.

Namwon City provides "Namwon Nuri-citizen" benefits to residents of sister city partners. The main benefits include admission fee reductions to public facilities (8 locations), incentives such as souvenirs and accommodation coupons, and discount benefits at Nuri-citizen affiliated merchants. The public facilities with admission fee reductions include Gwanghalluwon Garden (free admission), Aerospace Planetarium (50% discount), Children's Science Experience Center (50% discount), Chunhyang Theme Park (free admission), Jirisan Herb Valley (free admission), Namwon Art Village (20-30% discount on weekends), and Hwain-dang (50% discount).

Meanwhile, including this sister city agreement, Osan City has established sister city relationships with a total of eight domestic cities: Yeongdong-gun in North Chungcheong Province, Sokcho City in Gangwon Province, Suncheon City in South Jeolla Province, Jindo-gun in South Jeolla Province, Namhae-gun in South Gyeongsang Province, Andong City in North Gyeongsang Province, Jangsu-gun in North Jeolla Province, and Namwon City in North Jeolla Province.