A youth soccer delegation from Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture, Japan — a symbol of friendship between Gangwon Province and Aomori — will visit Yangyang-gun on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The elementary school soccer exchange between Yangyang-gun and Rokkasho has continued for more than 20 years since it began in 2004, making it one of the most enduring grassroots Korea-Japan friendship programs.
The two local governments have held annual reciprocal visits, using soccer as a bridge for the next generation to build friendships and deepen mutual understanding of each other's cultures.
This year's visit is a return trip following Yangyang-gun's youth soccer delegation's visit to Rokkasho last year.
The visiting delegation consists of 17 people in total — 13 student athletes, two coaches, and two accompanying officials.
On the first day of the visit, Tuesday at 1 p.m., a friendly soccer match featuring youth players from both cities will be held at the Yangyang National Sports Center. Thirteen players from Yangyang-gun and 13 from Rokkasho will take part, with the event divided into two matches.
The first match will pit representative squads from each city against each other in a six-on-six format with 20-minute halves. The second match will feature a mixed Korea-Japan team, with players from both cities combined into a single side.
Yangyang-gun said it hopes the mixed-team format — where children play as one unit across language and national boundaries — will help the young players forge deeper bonds.
A welcome dinner bringing together both delegations is planned after the matches to celebrate the friendship and goodwill between the two communities.
Yangyang-gun said it will continue to strengthen its cooperative relationship with Rokkasho.
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