Paju City and Białystok, Poland Strengthen Friendship City Exchange with DMZ Visit and Participation in Jangdan Soybean Festival

First Official Meeting Since Signing of Letter of Intent for Friendship City Partnership
Expectations for Cooperation in Culture and Tourism

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on November 24 that a delegation from Białystok, Poland visited Paju from November 21 to 23, marking a meaningful occasion to strengthen friendly and cooperative relations between the two cities.

Paju City, Delegation from Białystok, Poland Visits. Photo by Paju City

This visit was the first official exchange since the two cities signed a Letter of Intent for Friendship City Partnership in June. It served as an important opportunity to seek further substantive cooperation in the future. The delegation was led by Rafal Rudnicki, Deputy Mayor of Białystok, and consisted of a total of three members.

The delegation began their itinerary by touring the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) area, where they observed firsthand the history of division and the ongoing efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula. In the morning, they visited the Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory, and in the afternoon, they attended the opening ceremony of the 29th Paju Jangdan Soybean Festival, experiencing one of Paju’s signature cultural events. They also visited the National Folk Museum of Korea’s Paju branch to deepen their understanding of traditional Korean culture.

Yoon Juhyun, Director of the Department of Autonomy and Cooperation, stated, "Since the working-level discussions began in March this year and the officialization of our friendship and cooperation in June, Paju City and Białystok have steadily built the foundation for exchange. I hope this visit allowed the Białystok delegation to experience the history, culture, and values of peace in Paju." He added, "We look forward to both cities continuing their friendship and creating a peaceful and vibrant future together."

Paju City assessed that this exchange served as a positive opportunity to continuously explore possibilities for cooperation in various fields such as festivals, culture, and tourism, and to expand its international exchange network, thereby promoting the appeal of local culture to the world.

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