Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo has embarked on an eight-day official trip to Spain, from March 29th to April 5th, with a focus on bolstering the city's economic, scientific, and cultural landscape through strategic international partnerships. The delegation includes a dynamic group of entrepreneurs from key sectors such as artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, battery technology, and construction/landscape architecture, as well as Hanbat National University President Oh Yong-joon.
The economic delegation, spearheaded by the Daejeon Job and Economy Promotion Agency, features young and ambitious leaders, including representatives from unicorn companies. The itinerary includes a series of high-profile economic exchange events in each city, such as Chamber of Commerce roundtables and investment seminars, aimed at fostering robust networking opportunities between industry, academia, and research institutions.
The first stop on the itinerary is Madrid, where Mayor Lee and the delegation will tour the prominent Cuatro Torres Business Area. This visit aims to gather insights into urban modernization strategies and innovative public facility design.
On March 31st, Mayor Lee will travel to Granada to renew a vital friendship agreement with Mayor Marifran Carazo. The meeting will also serve as a platform to introduce Daejeon's signature "0 o'clock Festival" and explore concrete cultural exchange initiatives, including the potential invitation of a Granada-based flamenco performance troupe to Daejeon.
A significant aspect of the trip is the visit to Malaga on April 1st. As the inaugural visit to a member city of the newly formed Global Innovation Network of Intelligent Cities (GINI), established in September 2024, Mayor Lee will meet with Malaga Mayor Francisco de la Torre to discuss strategies for the network's 활성화 (invigoration). The delegation will also tour Malaga's Digital Content Hub, a national hub for digital innovation and entrepreneurship, and the city's historic district, seeking inspiration for the development of Daejeon's own Urban Innovation Zone.
Hanbat National University President Oh Yong-joon will engage in discussions with the president of the University of Malaga, home to a substantial Korean language department and the largest Korean studies library in Europe. The focus will be on exploring collaborative opportunities in student exchange programs and joint research endeavors.
From April 2nd to 3rd, Mayor Lee will be in Seville to attend the Executive Bureau meeting of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). This marks a crucial step as Daejeon prepares to assume the presidency of the UCLG for a one-year term starting in October 2025. While Daejeon and Seville do not have a prior history of collaboration, this visit will provide an opportunity for Mayor Lee to meet with Seville Mayor José Luis Sanz Ruiz, introduce the successful "0 o'clock Festival" – which notably contributed to Seville's top-tier ranking in summer vacation travel satisfaction – and discuss potential cultural exchange programs.
The final day of the trip will see the Daejeon economic delegation participate in a briefing on current Spanish market trends and an investment seminar organized by the Madrid office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) before their return to South Korea.
This visit follows a significant meeting in Daejeon on March 18th, where the Spanish Ambassador to Korea, Guillermo Kirkpatrick, met with Mayor Lee and participated in a local economy roundtable at the Chamber of Commerce. Ambassador Kirkpatrick expressed his honor in visiting Daejeon as his first destination following the 75th anniversary of Korea-Spain diplomatic relations and pledged his active support for Daejeon's initiatives in Spain, including fostering economic ties.
Mayor Lee Jang-woo emphasized the significance of having young and promising entrepreneurs as part of the delegation, expressing optimism for tangible outcomes across various sectors, including economy, science, culture, and tourism. He stated, "We are committed to ensuring that these exchanges go beyond mere reciprocal visits and cultivate sustainable development and practical achievements for both sides."
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