by Jeong Ilwoong
Published 20 Oct.2022 17:03(KST)
[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province has dispatched a special public diplomacy delegation to Japan. The delegation is expected to play a role in seeking to revitalize exchanges with Japan.
The province announced on the 20th that it sent the delegation to the "8th World Tea Festival" held locally upon the official invitation from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
The delegation, led by Hong Man-pyo, Director of the International Trade Division of the province, departed for Japan the day before. The dispatch of the delegation was made possible after Shizuoka Prefecture officially extended an invitation to the province during a VIP meeting at the Pan-Yellow Sea Forum held in Chungnam last August.
After participating in the festival in Shizuoka Prefecture, the delegation moved to Kyoto to hold a meeting with officials from the Nara Prefecture International Affairs Department, discussing hosting the 2026 East Asian Local Governments Meeting and invitations to international events hosted by Chungnam.
On the 21st, the delegation planned meetings with the Consulate General in Fukuoka and the Muryeong Kingdom International Network Council to explore ways to activate economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries. On the 22nd, they toured Baekje culture-related historic sites scattered throughout the Kansai region centered on Osaka, and concluded the Japan visit by visiting the detention site of Yun Bong-gil in Osaka to pay tribute.
Meanwhile, the day before, the delegation visited the Japanese National Diet Building, met with Japanese lawmakers, and discussed ways to promote exchange and cooperation between Korea and Japan, as well as invitations to the next year's Dae Baekje Festival.