![The Council of Metropolitan and Provincial Governors held its 61st general assembly at the council's main conference room near Gwanghwamun in Seoul on Friday. The first general assembly since the launch of the ninth elected term, the meeting elected Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae as the council's 19th chairman. [Council of Metropolitan and Provincial Governors]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/08/19/news-p.v1.20260819.a963b3040c284bc7a8749fe1907cc461_P1.jpg)
The Council of Metropolitan and Provincial Governors announced Wednesday it will hold the 2026 Local Diplomacy Best Practices Competition to identify and share outstanding international engagement achievements by local governments across the country.
The competition is designed to strengthen the global capabilities of local governments and spread successful exchange and cooperation models nationwide.
All 243 local governments in the country are eligible to enter — 16 metropolitan and provincial governments and 227 basic local governments — with the Council of Mayors, County Heads and District Mayors serving as a co-sponsoring organization.
Entries must be based on international exchange and cooperation initiatives carried out since January 2023. Eligible activities include sister-city and friendship agreements with foreign local governments; cultural, arts, sports and youth exchanges aimed at boosting local economies and fostering residents' global awareness; job creation and regional development through attracting foreign investment; and tourism promotion through the successful hosting of international events and festivals. Applicants may submit a single specific case or a comprehensive overview of their achievements.
The submission deadline is Sept. 30. A panel of five experts will review the entries and select six finalists in November. Final winners will be determined in December following presentation reviews and question-and-answer sessions.
Six local governments in total will receive awards. Prize money totals 14 million won ($9,920), accompanied by a certificate from the council chairman. The top prize, given to one organization, carries 5 million won; two second-place winners will each receive 3 million won; and three encouragement award recipients will each receive 1 million won.
Yoo Min-bong, secretary-general of the council, said the era has arrived in which the global competitiveness of local governments directly translates into national competitiveness. "I hope this competition will widely share vivid, real-world examples of local diplomacy, giving local governments across the country a chance to take their international exchange capabilities to the next level," he said.
thlee@heraldcorp.com
