Guro-gu hosts youth from Yecheon-gun for urban experience program

Guro-gu hosted youths from its sister city of Yecheon-gun in North Gyeongsang Province on Tuesday for an urban experience program.

The two municipalities have maintained a sister-city relationship since 2011 and have exchanged youth programs — including urban and rural experience activities for children — since 2013. The latest program was designed to give Yecheon-gun youths a chance to experience urban culture and to strengthen ties between the two local governments.

A group of 19 — 15 youths and four chaperones from Yecheon-gun — explored the history and culture of gaming at the Netmarble Game Museum, then practiced responding to fires, earthquakes and other emergencies at the Guro Disaster Safety Experience Center. The group also took in panoramic views of Seoul from the Seoul Sky observatory and observed marine life at Lotte World Aquarium, rounding out the day with a look at urban leisure facilities.

Starting next year, Guro-gu plans to expand the urban-rural exchange program to an overnight, two-day itinerary to give participants a broader range of experiences.

"I hope this experience gave the youths of Yecheon-gun a valuable opportunity to learn new things and encounter diverse cultures," Guro-gu District Mayor Jang In-hong said. "We will continue to offer a variety of exchange programs so that young people can build wide-ranging experiences and grow."