The Future of Local Autonomy Blossoms in Dongducheon... Gyeonggi Province City and County Council Members' Unity Sports Competition

Dongducheon City Council Hosts Successful 2025 City and County Council Members' Unity Sports Competition
900 Council Members and Staff from Across the Province Participate in Four-Region Tournament
Chairman Kim Seungho: "Basic Councils Are the Roots of Local Autonomy... Practicing Harmony Without Uniformity"

The "2025 Gyeonggi Province City and County Council Members' Unity Sports Competition," organized by Dongducheon City Council (Chairman Kim Seungho), was held successfully on the 7th at the Dongducheon City Sports Complex, with about 900 participants including city and county council members and staff from across Gyeonggi Province.

The "2025 Gyeonggi Province City and County Council Members' Unity Sports Competition" was held on the 7th at Dongducheon City Sports Complex, with a total of about 900 participants including council members and staff from cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Dongducheon City Council

This event was hosted by the Gyeonggi Province City and County Council Chairpersons' Association and was overseen by Dongducheon City Council, led by Association Chairman Kim Seungho. Key guests included Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs Ko Youngin, Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chairperson Choo Mi-ae, National Assembly members Kim Sungwon and Kang Deukgu, as well as chairpersons and members from each city and county council, and staff from council secretariats, all of whom gathered to foster strong unity and exchange.

The competition was held under the slogan "United Gyeonggi, United Council, Opening the Future of Local Autonomy Together," and featured contests among four regions: East, Central, South, and North.

A variety of events took place, including soccer, foot volleyball, tug-of-war, basketball free throws, basket toss, and mixed relay races. The event also featured celebratory performances and prize drawings set against the late autumn backdrop of Dongducheon colored by the autumn leaves of Soyo Mountain, which received an enthusiastic response from participants.

In his opening remarks, Association Chairman Kim Seungho emphasized, "Our city and county councils are the foundation and roots of local autonomy, being closest to the residents, hearing their voices first, and acting first for their happiness."

He continued, "Each city and county faces different circumstances and issues, but by practicing 'harmony without uniformity'-acknowledging our differences while showing consideration and cooperation-the 31 basic councils of Gyeonggi Province will become even stronger." He also stressed the need for both healthy competition and solidarity among local councils for the advancement of local autonomy.

Chairman Kim added, "Today’s Unity Sports Competition is not just an athletic event, but a venue for all of us to come together as one, an occasion for council members and staff to unite in friendship. The energy generated here will become a powerful force that brings new vitality to our legislative activities and the happiness of our residents."

The event was operated with 'safety' as the top priority. Dongducheon City Council worked closely with Dongducheon City, Dongducheon Police Station, and Dongducheon Fire Station to thoroughly prepare by organizing stadium routes, deploying medical personnel, and providing pre-event training for staff. As a result, all programs were completed successfully without a single safety incident until the end of the event.

Meanwhile, in preparing for the event, the organizers focused on revitalizing the local economy by allocating most of the budget to small business owners within Dongducheon. Participating city and county councils in Gyeonggi Province also purchased goods from their local traditional markets, which is said to have provided a meaningful boost to the local economy.

Chairman Kim Seungho expressed his gratitude, saying, "I hope today was a rewarding day filled with the vibrant spirit of Dongducheon. I sincerely hope you will return to this city, blessed with beautiful mountains, fresh air, and the stunning autumn colors of Soyo Mountain." He also officially thanked Mayor Park Hyungdeok of Dongducheon and related public officials for their special attention and generous support in preparing the event.

Dongducheon City Council believes that this Unity Sports Competition promoted exchange and unity among Gyeonggi Province city and county councils, while also enhancing the city’s image as both a security hub and an attractive destination for forest recreation and tourism, thereby achieving significant promotional effects for the region.

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