Naenam-myeon in Gyeongju and Jucheon-myeon in Namwon Foster Yeongnam-Honam Unity... Longstanding Friendship Rooted in "Choi Chiwon"

25 Years of Sisterhood Fostering Co-Prosperity

Residents of Naenam-myeon in Gyeongju City-one of the main clan villages where the Gyeongju Choi family, descended from Choi Chiwon, has lived for generations-and residents of Jucheon-myeon in Namwon City, where the calligraphy of "Yonghoseokmun" believed to have been written by Choi Chiwon is engraved, demonstrated their strong 25-year friendship.

On December 4, Naenam-myeon in Gyeongju City announced that it had hosted a mutual exchange event by inviting Jucheon-myeon in Namwon City, its sister village, to promote unity between the Yeongnam and Honam regions and encourage regional cultural exchange.

Naenam-myeon in Gyeongju City held a mutual exchange event on the 4th by inviting Jucheon-myeon in Namwon City, its sister village, to promote unity between Yeongnam and Honam regions and regional cultural exchange. Provided by Gyeongju City

The Jucheon-myeon delegation, including Jucheon-myeon Chief Noh Hwansoon, heads of local institutions and social organizations, members of the development council, and village leaders-about 30 people in total-attended the event. The Naenam-myeon Village Leaders' Council warmly welcomed the entire delegation by presenting flowers to each member.

During the introductory ceremony, Naenam-myeon Chief Lim Sanguk delivered a welcoming address, followed by a response from Jucheon-myeon Chief Noh Hwansoon and congratulatory remarks from City Councilor Kim Donghae. The two sides also exchanged local specialty products, reflecting on the significance of their 25-year sisterhood.

Afterward, the two regions shared a luncheon, during which they discussed key local issues, agricultural technology, administrative practices, and information on regional development, further strengthening their mutual exchange.

The delegation also visited the Gyeongju National Museum to experience the history and culture of Gyeongju and toured the venues of the Korea-U.S. and Korea-China summits, commemorating the successful hosting of the 2025 Gyeongju APEC Summit.

Jucheon-myeon in Namwon City is closely linked to Sandong Village (present-day Jucheon-myeon), which is famous as the starting point of the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail and for its clusters of Cornelian cherry trees.

According to one legend associated with a thousand-year-old Cornelian cherry tree, Choi Chiwon is said to have brought the tree from the Tang Dynasty in China and planted it for the first time in the area, which is why the region came to be called "Sandong."

Lim Sanguk, Chief of Naenam-myeon, stated, "While most regional exchanges are one-off events, it was truly meaningful to witness the enduring 25-year friendship between these sister cities in Yeongnam and Honam. I hope today will greatly contribute to the development and unity of both communities."

Noh Hwansoon, Chief of Jucheon-myeon, said, "I sincerely appreciate the warm welcome from the Naenam delegation and had a meaningful time experiencing the history and culture of Gyeongju firsthand. I look forward to continuing our exchange next year when we meet again in Jucheon-myeon."

Meanwhile, since forming their sisterhood in December 2000, Naenam-myeon and Jucheon-myeon have continued mutual visits for 25 years, sharing regional culture and best practices, and pursuing co-prosperity through collaborative projects.

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