Pocheon-si Completes 1st Hantangang UNESCO Global Geopark Youth Exploration Team

"Visit to Itoigawa Global Geopark in Japan"

They are taking a commemorative photo after completing the 1st Hantan River UNESCO Global Geopark Youth Exploration Program held in Itoigawa City, Japan.

Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Baek Young-hyun) announced on the 8th that it has successfully completed the 1st Hantan River UNESCO Global Geopark Youth Exploration Program held in Itoigawa City, Japan.

This youth exploration program was planned as part of the international exchange for the Hantan River UNESCO Global Geopark. It was organized by Pocheon City and hosted by Itoigawa City, Japan, lasting for 3 nights and 4 days, with 10 students from grades 1 to 3 of middle schools in Pocheon participating.

Previously, Pocheon City selected 10 youth exploration participants from Pocheon Middle School, Idong Middle School, Pocheon Girls' Middle School, and others through a recruitment announcement, and conducted preliminary education including visits to the Hantan River Geopark Center and geological site explorations.

The Itoigawa Geopark is the first UNESCO-designated Global Geopark in Japan and is one of the world’s leading geoparks, having operated for 20 years.

The students visited the Fossa Magna Museum, a specialized museum for geology and rocks, the Jade Beach where they could collect jade stones, the massive limestone Hisui Gorge, and the Marine High School, a specialized high school in Itoigawa City. They also participated in a commemorative tree planting event and jade accessory making experience with Mayor Toru Yoneda of Itoigawa.

In particular, Japanese students took the lead in explaining various contents such as geopark education, the Marine High School practical program, and museum tours, matching the students’ level of understanding.

A student who participated in the exploration said, “It was easy to understand because friends directly explained about the Itoigawa Geopark. I want to participate in the student exchange program next year as well.”

Mayor Baek Young-hyun of Pocheon said, “We express our gratitude to Itoigawa City for welcoming our Pocheon students like family. We hope that the experience at Itoigawa Geopark, Japan’s first UNESCO Global Geopark, served as an opportunity to further enhance the students’ potential.”

Meanwhile, Pocheon City plans to continue various exchange programs related to the Hantan River and hold international events such as museum special exhibitions, academic seminars, and geopark forums.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.