Seoul's Gangdong-gu hosted a youth homestay exchange program from July 23 to 27, welcoming a delegation from its Japanese sister city of Musashino, Tokyo, district mayor Lee Su-hee announced.
The youth exchange between Gangdong-gu and Musashino, which began in 2005, is one of the district's flagship international cultural exchange programs, with delegations alternating between the two cities each year to build lasting bonds of trust and friendship. This year, 15 participants — including youth delegates and chaperones from Musashino — visited Gangdong-gu. The visiting students were paired one-on-one with local middle and high school families for homestays, giving them a firsthand experience of everyday Korean life and warm hospitality.
Throughout the visit, the delegation took part in a range of programs spanning Korea's history and contemporary culture. The group kicked off July 23 with a visit to Seoul Sky, followed on July 24 by a tour of Gyeongbokgung and the National Folk Museum of Korea dressed in hanbok, with samgyetang for lunch. They then returned to Gangdong-gu to tour Gangdong Central Library before attending a welcome ceremony presided over by the district mayor.
On July 25, the group spent the day together at Lotte World wearing Korean school uniforms, deepening their friendships. July 26 was set aside for free-schedule activities arranged by each host family, and the program wrapped up July 27 with a farewell ceremony.
A Gangdong-gu student who took part in the program said the experience left a lasting impression. "At first I was too shy to say anything, so I was really grateful when my Japanese friend spoke to me first," the student said. "We went to a trinket shop together, ate hotteok, and stayed up watching Japanese anime — it was so much fun. I really hope we can meet again in Musashino next year."
District Mayor Lee said the program offered young people something invaluable. "For the youth who will shape our future, the experience of crossing borders to understand and connect with each other's cultures will be a precious asset as they navigate an era of globalization," Lee said. "We will continue to expand opportunities for international exchange so that Gangdong-gu's young people can make their mark on the world stage."
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