Goyang-si Signs Memorandum of Understanding for Friendly Cooperation with Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Strengthening International Cooperation with Kaohsiung, the Economic Center of Southern Taiwan, in Smart City and Performing Arts Industries
Mayor Lee Dong-hwan: "I hope major companies like TSMC will enter Goyang so it can become a self-sufficient city"
Mayor Chen Chi-mai: "We expect mutual development with Goyang, an advanced city in smart city and MICE industries"

Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) announced on the 23rd that it has agreed to cooperate with Kaohsiung City, Taiwan in various fields including smart cities, youth education, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and performing arts industries, agriculture, and floriculture industries.

Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City (left), and Chen Chi-mai, Mayor of Kaohsiung City, are taking a commemorative photo after signing a Memorandum of Understanding for friendly cooperation at Kaohsiung City Hall, Taiwan, on the 22nd. Provided by Goyang Special City

Mayor Lee Dong-hwan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for friendly cooperation with the Mayor of Kaohsiung City at Kaohsiung City Hall on the 22nd. The two cities plan to promote ▲exchange of smart city technologies and policies ▲activation of youth education and human exchange ▲cooperation in the MICE industry and cultural performances ▲collaboration for the development of agriculture and floriculture industries.

Kaohsiung City is one of Taiwan’s six special municipalities and the largest city in southern Taiwan, serving as an economic and industrial hub. The Asia New Bay Area hosts a 5G AIoT innovation complex that includes Startup Terrace, Kaohsiung Music Center, and Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. Since taking office in 2020, Mayor Chen Chi-mai has been actively promoting policies centered on eco-friendliness, technology, and culture.

Prior to this agreement, Goyang City has maintained continuous exchanges with Kaohsiung City. Starting with an invitation to the Asia-Pacific City Summit (APCS) from Kaohsiung in 2013, Goyang sent an invitation to the Kaohsiung International Flower Expo in 2016, and in 2018, a delegation from Kaohsiung attended the Goyang International Flower Expo.

Notably, in September last year, a Goyang City delegation visited Kaohsiung to strengthen international cooperation in the Chinese-speaking region. In November of the same year, Kaohsiung City extended an invitation to the ‘2025 Kaohsiung Smart City Summit’ and requested the signing of the MOU.

Mayor Chen Chi-mai of Kaohsiung, who warmly welcomed Mayor Lee Dong-hwan, said, “Goyang Special City is known as an advanced city leading smart city development and as a mecca of the MICE industry with KINTEX, the largest convention center in South Korea.” He added, “We expect this agreement to be an important opportunity to establish a foundation for mutual development between the two cities.”

Mayor Lee Dong-hwan responded, “I was amazed to see Kaohsiung City, which has transformed into a cutting-edge city with industries such as semiconductors, green energy, and smart cities based on traditional industrial foundations.” He continued, “With global giants like TSMC entering the Goyang Free Economic Zone, I hope Goyang will also become a global self-sufficient city like Kaohsiung, and that the two cities will grow together as good partners.”

Additionally, Mayor Lee requested the participation of Kaohsiung City, a member city, in the 10th UCLG ASPAC (United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific) Goyang Congress to be held at KINTEX in September this year.

After signing the MOU, Mayor Lee visited Startup Terrace to share strategies on startup support policies. Startup Terrace is a startup support hub established under the leadership of the Taiwanese government, housing startups dealing with advanced technologies such as AI, 5G, and AIoT, and has become a startup base for AI, smart cities, and eco-friendly technologies.

Goyang City plans to expand exchanges in various fields by cooperating with Kaohsiung City to share smart technologies, MICE industry know-how, and floriculture industry infrastructure, diversifying exchanges with the Chinese-speaking region and strengthening Goyang’s urban competitiveness through active international cooperation.

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