'After Visiting the US, Kim Dong-yeon Heads to Japan: "Great Expectations for Win-Win Development Cooperation with Kanagawa Prefecture"'

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (right) visited Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on the 17th (local time) and warmly shook hands with Kanagawa Prefecture Governor Kuroiwa Yuji.

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Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, who is visiting Japan to attract overseas investment and expand opportunities for youth, met with Kuroiwa Yuji, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, to discuss cooperation plans in the Gyeonggi Youth Ladder Program, healthcare, sports, and cultural arts sectors, and agreed to collaborate for the mutual development of the two regions.

On the 17th (local time), Governor Kim met with Governor Kuroiwa at the Kanagawa Prefectural Office located in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, stating, "Gyeonggi Province is the heart of South Korea's economy, encompassing all industries. I understand that Kanagawa Prefecture is also a core region for manufacturing and advanced industries, and I want to build a strong cooperative relationship." He emphasized, "There have been difficulties in Korea-Japan relations, including those caused by COVID-19, but cooperation between local governments, cultural and human exchanges, and people-based collaboration should expand regardless of political circumstances."

Governor Kim particularly highlighted the 'Gyeonggi Youth Ladder Program,' which provides learning and advancement opportunities for youth, and requested support for exchanges between universities in the two regions and the development of customized training programs.

They also agreed to expand exchanges such as friendly games between independent baseball teams from Gyeonggi Province and Kanagawa Prefecture. Additionally, Governor Kuroiwa proposed an MOU related to Mibyeong to Governor Kim, who readily agreed.

Mibyeong refers to a state beyond the binary classification of health and disease, describing a condition "not yet a disease but becoming one, or experiencing uncomfortable symptoms despite no apparent illness."

Kanagawa Prefecture is promoting a healthcare project that integrates cutting-edge medical care and the latest technology to manage the diet, exercise, and social participation of the elderly in a Mibyeong state, enabling healthy longevity.

Governor Kim responded, "The concept of Mibyeong, which lies between being healthy and being sick, is a really good idea. South Korea is also facing similar concerns regarding low birth rates and aging, so we hope to consider this together and benchmark it."

Furthermore, Governor Kim said, "Before coming to Japan, I secured an investment of 4 trillion won related to semiconductors and advanced industries in the United States, and received a promise to expand it further. My visit to Kanagawa Prefecture is also aimed at expanding investment with two companies. I hope to create a win-win synergy effect through investment expansion with companies in Kanagawa Prefecture." He proposed, "I hope to expand cooperation in all areas including economy, industry, investment, trade, culture, youth exchange, sports, and bio-health based on today's meeting."

Kanagawa Prefecture was the first overseas local government to establish a sisterhood relationship with Gyeonggi Province in Asia in 1990. Despite difficult circumstances such as deteriorating Korea-Japan relations, the two regions have maintained steady exchanges and built a long-standing trust relationship. Since the sisterhood agreement, Gyeonggi Province has dispatched 10 public officials and Kanagawa Prefecture 9 officials reciprocally. Since April this year, one Kanagawa Prefecture official has been on secondment in Gyeonggi Province. Additionally, annual events such as the dispatch of Gyeonggi Province art troupes and the Korea-China-Japan three-region youth sports exchange tournament are held. In the second half of this year, Gyeonggi Province will host the 'Korea-China-Japan Three-Region (Province-Prefecture-Liaoning Province) Friendship Exchange Meeting.'

Kanagawa Prefecture is the second most populous region in Japan with 9.23 million people after Tokyo and is the center of Japan's economy. It has developed industries such as petroleum, electrical products, chemical products, and heavy chemical industries, and serves as a transportation hub for maritime, land, and air routes, sharing many geographical and economic similarities with Gyeonggi Province.

Earlier on the same day, as the first schedule of his visit to Japan, Governor Kim held a luncheon meeting with executives of the Kanagawa Prefecture branch of the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan). Meeting with Lee Soon-jae, head of the Kanagawa Prefecture branch of Mindan, and other executives, Governor Kim said, "The recent Korea-Japan relations have been very difficult, and I wonder how the Korean residents are doing. Mindan has worked hard so far, and if there is anything needed, I will do my best to help." He added, "I hope to increase cultural, human, and private exchanges beyond political relations and maintain a good cooperative relationship with Gyeonggi Province in the future."

In response, a Mindan official said, "When Korea-Japan relations are bad, Korean residents face difficulties. We hope that politics and private exchanges can be considered separately."

Since 2010, Gyeonggi Province has been promoting cooperative projects to enhance private friendship with the Kanagawa Prefecture branch of Mindan. In particular, Gyeonggi Province art troupes are dispatched annually to the Liberation Day ceremony held every August in Japan and the Korea-Japan Citizen Exchange Festival (Korea Madang) held in October.

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