Seongbuk-gu and Glendale Forge Friendship and Solidarity Before the Statue of Peace

Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian and city officials from Glendale, California, visited the Korea-China Statue of Peace at Bunsumaeru Plaza along Seongbukcheon Stream in Seoul's Seongbuk-gu on Tuesday, the district announced.

The visit was arranged to express gratitude to Glendale for its efforts to promote accurate historical awareness — including designating a Hangul Day and preserving the Statue of Peace — and to strengthen the friendship and solidarity between the two cities.

Glendale officially designated Oct. 9, 2024, as "Hangeul Day" and held a proclamation ceremony at its city council.

The move aligns with a broader wave of hangul commemorations across the United States, including similar proclamations by the cities of Los Angeles and Santa Clara, and Fullerton in Orange County.

Six youth representatives from Seongbuk-gu, who are scheduled to visit the United States next month for a cultural exchange program, also took part in the event. The students presented the Glendale delegation with pickets and letters bearing messages of support for the Statue of Peace.

District Mayor Lee Seung-ro and Mayor Kassakhian spun a peace pinwheel together in a symbolic gesture of friendship and solidarity between the two cities. The youth representatives then held up pickets reading "A small breeze makes a great peace" in a performance conveying a message of peace and human rights.

The performance left a strong impression on those in attendance, symbolically embodying the values of peace and harmony that both cities share.

"I keep in my heart the message of historical pain and human rights that the Statue of Peace conveys," District Mayor Lee said. "I hope our two cities will continue to work together to protect the Statue of Peace as a symbol of human rights and human dignity."

Mayor Kassakhian expressed his appreciation in return. "I am deeply grateful for Seongbuk-gu's warm hospitality," he said. "Standing before this symbol of peace and harmony, I feel that our two cities are truly connected as one."

The student participants also shared their impressions. "We were deeply moved to learn that Glendale designated a 'Comfort Women Day' in 2012 and became the first local government in the United States to erect a Statue of Peace in 2013, holding a commemorative ceremony every year since," they said. "We are even more excited now, knowing that we will visit Glendale's Statue of Peace in person when we travel to the United States for the youth cultural exchange next month."

Seongbuk-gu keeps a miniature Statue of Peace in the district mayor's office to raise awareness of historical truth and the value of peace.

The Korea-China Statue of Peace installed near Hansung University Station also continues to convey messages of peace and human rights, drawing attention from local residents.

Seongbuk-gu and Glendale have maintained ongoing exchanges since signing a friendship agreement in 2015. The district plans to expand cooperation with Glendale across a range of areas, including youth programs, culture and education.