Celebrating 'Suncheon Citizens' Day'
A delegation from Izumi, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan — Suncheon's sister city — visited the South Jeolla Province city, with the two municipalities' shared commitment to protecting hooded cranes at the heart of their bond.
According to Suncheon city, a delegation from Izumi, on the island of Kyushu, arrived Thursday for a two-day, one-night visit through Friday to mark the 32nd Suncheon Citizens' Day and strengthen friendly ties.
The two cities forged a sister-city relationship in November 2012, united by their roles as major wintering grounds for hooded cranes. Since then, they have maintained exchanges across a range of areas, including crane conservation, ecotourism, youth cultural programs and participation in each other's local industry festivals.
Izumi's primary hooded crane wintering site is the reclaimed farmland around the Arasaki area in the northwestern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, a location well known among crane enthusiasts.
The visiting delegation comprised three members: Deputy Mayor Tomita Shinobu, commerce and tourism director Tosaki Motoo, and an international exchange coordinator. Together, they shared a sense of solidarity with their Suncheon counterparts and fostered goodwill between the two cities.
On Thursday, the group attended the opening ceremony of the 32nd Suncheon Citizens' Day at Ocheon Green Square, where they extended warm congratulations to residents. They then toured key ecotourism sites, including Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve, Suncheon Bay National Garden and a garden workcation facility.
The visitors examined Suncheon's urban landscape design and its success in ecotourism development, exchanging views on tourism and public policy initiatives the two cities could pursue together.
A city official said Suncheon would continue building on the partnership. "We will maintain a cooperative relationship that goes beyond exchanges centered on ecological resources and grows together across diverse fields," the official said.
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