Gyeonggi-do and Jeju-do Jointly Host the 'National Local Governments Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Workshop'

A Sustainable Future of 'Greater Peace' Co-Created by Local Governments
Keynote Speech on 'Prospects for the New U.S. Administration's Korea Policy' and Expert Discussions
Experiencing the Importance of Korean Peninsula Peace at DMZ Symbolic Site 'Gimpo Aegibong Ecological Peace Park'

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 9th that it jointly hosted the '15th National Local Governments Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Workshop' with Jeju Province over two days on the 6th and 7th at Sono Calm Goyang and Aegibong Ecological Peace Park in Gimpo.

Gyeonggi Province and Jeju Island jointly held the "15th National Local Governments Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Workshop" over two days on the 6th and 7th at Sono Calm Goyang and Aegibong Ecological Peace Park in Gimpo. Participants are taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

Since March 2009, Gyeonggi Province, the Gyeonggi Research Institute, and the Nonprofit Organization Jeju Residents' Movement for Inter-Korean Cooperation have signed an academic and research exchange agreement on inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, and have been holding workshops alternately with Jeju Province every year.

More than 60 participants, including officials in charge of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation from metropolitan and basic local governments nationwide and experts related to inter-Korean exchange, attended this workshop, sharing diverse opinions on the prospects for inter-Korean relations amid changes in the domestic and international situation on the Korean Peninsula and improving unification awareness among future generations.

On the first day, following the opening ceremony, a keynote lecture was held by former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok on the topic of "Prospects and Response Directions of the New U.S. Administration's Korea Policy."

Former Minister Lee Jong-seok stated, "There is a high possibility that the second Trump administration will pursue North Korea-U.S. talks, which is expected to act as a new turning point in the situation on the Korean Peninsula," adding, "There is great concern about the escalating crisis in current inter-Korean relations, so practical diplomacy detached from ideology should be pursued to protect the safety of the people and reduce security risks."

The first session, themed "Exploring the Role of Local Governments Amid Inter-Korean Stalemate," examined North Korea's humanitarian situation and explored sustainable inter-Korean exchange and cooperation measures as well as the possibility of cooperation in border areas based on peace economic zones.

The second session, under the theme "Improving Unification Awareness of Future Generations Amid Changes in the International Situation Surrounding the Korean Peninsula," analyzed the current heightened geopolitical tensions and the peace process on the Korean Peninsula to forecast future inter-Korean relations. It also discussed approaches for future unification education based on survey analysis of the 2030 generation's awareness of the necessity of unification.

On the following day, participants visited Aegibong Ecological Peace Park in Gimpo to directly experience the importance of peace on the Korean Peninsula at the DMZ site.

Oh Hu-seok, Deputy Governor for Administration of Gyeonggi Province, said, "The situation of escalating inter-Korean relations and international tensions continues," adding, "We will do our best to prepare practical and sustainable cooperation measures for reconciliation and cooperation between the North and South through this workshop."

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