Yangpyeong-gun signed an exchange and cooperation agreement with the city of Chiffre, France. On the 30th, Yangpyeong-gun (Governor Jin Jeon-seon) promised to continue multi-faceted exchange projects for joint development and prosperity with the French city of Suyip under the slogan, ‘Remember history together and dream of the future together.’
Schiff, France, is the first city that Governor Hong Jae-ha settled in France via Russia for restoration projects before and after World War I. Since Governor Hong Jae-ha’s hometown was Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Yangpyeong County Governor Jin Jeon-seon participated in the repatriation ceremony of patriotic governors Lee Han-ho and Hong Jae-ha held at Incheon Airport in November 2022, forming a relationship between the two cities.
In May 2023, the county discussed exchanges with Schiff City through Kim Hyeong-jin, senior expert member of the French office of the Korea City and Provincial Governors Association, and in accordance with this, in April 2024, a friendly exchange proposal was delivered to Schiff City to promote exchange and cooperation between the two cities. It could be accomplished.
The city of Suyip, France, is a commune (basic municipality) with a population of 4,000 located about 2 hours away from Paris. The city of Schiff, which retains the pain of war as a fierce battlefield in World War I, is home to a large military base in World War II.
Likewise, Yangpyeong-gun is also a strategic military location, with one corps and two divisions currently stationed there. Based on these commonalities, the military commemorated the Battle of Jipyeong-ri, in which a French battalion took part in the battle and prevented a concentrated attack by 50,000 Chinese soldiers, and decided to expand exchanges with Schiff City by considering ‘memory and preservation of history’ as an important value. .
In addition, the two cities plan to promote student exchanges by operating history-themed cultural and artistic exchanges and history education programs on war history. In the future, the two cities plan to discuss concluding a friendship city agreement based on trust through prior exchanges.
After signing an exchange and cooperation ceremony, the French delegation from Suyip City will begin by laying a wreath at the UN Monument in Jipyeong-myeon and then tour major sites where they can enjoy the history and culture of Yangpyeong, including the Jipyeong-ri Battle Memorial, Jipyeong Brewery, Eco-friendly Agriculture Museum, and Yongmunsa Temple.
Mayor François Collard said, “I would like to thank the officials of Yangpyeong County for their hospitality, and the stories my grandfather told of Koreans who participated in the restoration project during World War I remain in my memory for a long time.” He added, “I am very interested in Korea, especially I am very pleased to be able to exchange with Yangpyeong-gun on the topic of history. “I hope that many exchanges will take place through deeper cooperation between the French city of Schiff and Yangpyeong-gun in the future,” he said.
In response, Yangpyeong County Governor Jeon Jeon-seon said, “I think the two cities, which boast the pain and history of war and rich green spaces, will be able to share deep exchanges based on common values.” He added, “As exchanges mature, students will learn about the war history of the two cities.” “I hope that we can continue our relationship to future generations by learning about each other’s countries and visiting each other’s countries through exchange student programs,” he said.
Queen Reporter Hana Choi Photo Yangpyeong-gun
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2024-10-01 17:28:35