Son Hwa-jeong attends event marking 34th anniversary of South Korea-China ties, stressing Yeongjong's role as bridge for bilateral exchange

"We will build a self-governing city that communicates with the world, drawing on our position as a global gateway"

Yeongjong District Mayor Son Hwa-jeong delivers remarks at the "Joint Cultural Celebration of the 34th Anniversary of South Korea-China Diplomatic Relations and Chuseok-National Day" held at the Grand Ballroom of Paradise City Convention Center in Incheon on Sunday. [Yeongjong-gu]
Yeongjong District Mayor Son Hwa-jeong delivers remarks at the "Joint Cultural Celebration of the 34th Anniversary of South Korea-China Diplomatic Relations and Chuseok-National Day" held at the Grand Ballroom of Paradise City Convention Center in Incheon on Sunday. [Yeongjong-gu]

Incheon's Yeongjong-gu has declared its ambition to become a global bridge city driving South Korea-China friendship and shared prosperity across Northeast Asia.

District Mayor Son Hwa-jeong made her diplomatic debut on Sunday — her first since taking office in July when the newly established Yeongjong-gu was launched — at a joint cultural celebration marking the 34th anniversary of South Korea-China diplomatic relations, held at the Grand Ballroom of Paradise City Convention Center in Incheon. She said she would develop Yeongjong-gu into a key hub for bilateral exchange.

The event, organized by the Hanwha China Peace and Reunification Promotion Federation, drew the Chinese ambassador to South Korea, senior officials, and a large gathering of dignitaries, compatriots and citizens from both countries. Son used the occasion to take her first formal step into local diplomacy.

In her congratulatory address, Son highlighted Yeongjong-gu's geographic and strategic value and expressed her determination to stand at the forefront of efforts to strengthen South Korea-China ties.

"It is deeply meaningful to share the friendship between our two countries here in Yeongjong — a gateway airport city that connects Korea and the world through the skies," she said. "The two countries have long been partners, building cultural, economic and people-to-people ties throughout history."

She also cited the Chinese proverb "Zhong Han liang guo, bi lin er ju, qing shen yi chang" — meaning China and Korea, living as neighbors, share deep affection and lasting friendship — to underscore a sense of solidarity between the two nations.

The remarks reflected her ambition as the district's chief administrator to position Yeongjong as a central pillar of South Korea-China relations and develop it into an "airport economy capital" driving shared prosperity across Northeast Asia.

Son also said the event, timed to coincide with chuseok in Korea and China's National Day, marked a turning point in deepening cultural understanding and trust between the peoples of both countries. "Yeongjong-gu is a globally open, self-governing city," she said. "Going forward, we will faithfully fulfill our role as a global bridge by expanding multilateral exchange and cooperation with China and countries around the world."


gilbert@heraldcorp.com