Delegation from Incheon traveling across four European countries, including France, until November 20to seek support from overseas Koreans in Europe
The Mayor of Incheon and officials from Incheon are going on their second overseas business trip since taking office as the 8th democratically elected city administration in order to strengthen Incheon’s cooperation with overseas Koreans and also to encourage overseas Koreans to open their Overseas Koreans Service office in Incheon.
▲ On November 13 (local time), the Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City took a tour around Caen’s City Hall led by Mayor Joel Bruneau in Normandy, France.
Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor Yoo Jeongbok is on a 9-day trip to four European countries, including France, from November 12 to 20 with other officials from the City’s administration.
Upon receiving an official invitation to the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) from the Association of Korean Residents in Europe, Incheon organized this trip to Europe in hopes to strengthen its cooperation with local institutions, attract investment, and share its plans to transform Incheon into a world-class international city. During his trip, Mayor Yoo Jeongbok also visited historical sites to pay homage to the historical significance of the Battle of Incheon.
He first visited the Caen Memorial Museum after landing in Paris, France, and Omaha Beach, where the Allied Forces pitched its fiercest resistance against the Germans during World War II. The Mayor also visited the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Here, while commemorating the noble sacrifices made by countless soldiers in Incheon and Normandy, Mayor Yoo Jeongbok spent time reflecting on their resolve and dedication toward defending peace.
In 2017, Incheon City and the French province of Normandy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on friendship and cooperation to help preserve the cultural heritage of both regions and to protect the peace. Incheon, which is planning a major commemorative event for the Battle of Incheon next year, shared a wide variety of experiences and know-how with Normandy through this visit and discussed different ways to work together.
▲ Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor Yoo Jeongbok listens to an official at the Caen Memorial Museum in Normandy, France on November 13 (local time).
On the second leg of their visit to Europe, which is in Barcelona, Spain, Mayor Yoo Jeongbok and his delegation will attend the 2022 Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) and participate in discussions on city governance under the theme of “Sharing the Future Society through Cooperative Governance.”
As the world's largest international event on the subject of smart cities, the SCEWC gets under way from November 15 to 17 to provide a glimpse into the present and future of smart infrastructure and next-generation mobility solutions, such as digital transformation, urban environment, mobility, and shared cities.
More than 24,000 people from 700 cities in 140 or more countries are expected to attend this year's event, with 400 city leaders and internationally renowned speakers scheduled to take part in more than 110 discussion sessions. Incheon plans to raise its status and reputation internationally using its slogan, “Global Smart City Incheon,” with an exhibition and public relations booth in collaboration with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, and in doing so, actively promoting the city’s smart city policies and projects.
In Frankfurt, Germany, the third part of this latest trip to Europe by Incheon City officials, the delegation will meet global corporations and officials from the Federation of German Industries to share information regarding the investment environment at the Incheon Free Economic Zone and make a pitch to attract investment into Incheon.
Moreover, the delegation plans to show its support for Korean residents in Europe and sign an MOU on mutual cooperation with the Association of Korean Residents in Europe(Chairperson: Yoo Je-heon). Here, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to explain the new “culture town” for overseas Koreans in Europe build in Incheon, and also explain what the Overseas Korean Service is in order to seek their support in opening a new office in Incheon.
▲ Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial Museum in Normandy, France
The last part of the trip will bring Mayor Yoo Jeongbok and his delegation to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, which is considered one of the best examples of regenerating the old port to fit modern times. The delegation will visit NDSM, De Ceuvel, and the IJdok district, which are great examples of voluntary urban regeneration driven by local residents and artists, and develop ways to combine ideas from these destinations with the Jemulpo Renaissance plan.
Meanwhile, Mayor Yoo Jeongbok and his spouse were invited by the Association of Korean Residents in Europe, which is why Ms. Choi Eun-yeong will accompany the Mayor to Europe - ather own personal expense - to visit the Korean Cultural Center in Essen, Germany, and host a meeting with Korean residents, including former miners and nurses who had been dispatched to Germany decades ago. Furthermore, Ms. Choiplans to explore the possibility of opening a Korean branch of the Pompidou Museum in Incheon.
