Yeonsu-gu and Cottonwood Heights, Utah, USA (Mayor Mike Wakers) have signed an international friendship city agreement.

The district dispatched a delegation to visit the city at the invitation of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, and on the 5th (local time), the two cities signed the “International Sister City Agreement” at the Cottonwood Heights City Hall, pledging to actively promote exchanges and cooperation in areas such as administration, culture, education, and economy.

Accordingly, the two cities will promote continuous communication and cooperation systems, including establishing a permanent communication system and conducting cross-visits to enhance their friendly relations and urban competitiveness.

The agreement ceremony was attended by 11 representatives from Yeonsu-gu, including Yeonsu-gu District Mayor Lee Jae-ho and Yeonsu-gu Council Chair Park Hyun-joo, and four Cottonwood Heights City Council members, including Mayor Mike Wakers.

In addition, Kim Yong-jae, President of the Utah Korean Association, Gregory Hill, Representative of the University of Utah Asia Campus, James Park, Director of External Affairs, and over 20 Korean War veterans and their families residing in Salt Lake City and Cottonwood Heights City attended the event.

The signing ceremony began with a friendship city dinner and was hosted by Cottonwood Heights City with the support of the Utah Korean American Association (President Kim Yong-jae).

The ceremony began with a violin performance by David Park of the Utah Philharmonic and a band performance. It continued with a letter reading and performance by the Little Ambassadors of the H2O Mutual Aid Movement Headquarters, expressing gratitude for the courage and dedication of Utah veterans who served in the Korean War.

The ceremony concluded with a meaningful event celebrating the future of friendly cooperation between Yeonsu District and Cottonwood Heights City and strengthening the friendship between the two countries, including a scholarship donation ceremony for international student exchanges in the Cannon School District, where Cottonwood Heights City is located.

Cottonwood Heights, Utah, which has signed a friendship city agreement with the district, is located in Salt Lake County, Utah, USA, and is a nearby city just 30 minutes from Salt Lake City Airport.

Particularly, due to its geographical location at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, it is home to some of the world's leading ski resorts and is famous for skiing and hiking.

Recently, companies related to fintech, venture industries, and healthcare have established their headquarters there, making it an emerging economic city in addition to its sports and tourism industries.

It is also home to the main campus of the University of Utah Asia Campus (119 Songdo Culture Road, Yeonsu-gu).

Lee Jae-ho, Mayor of Yeonsu District, emphasized, “With the new direct flight route between Incheon and Salt Lake City set to begin in June this year, and Cottonwood Heights also located near the airport like Yeonsu District, we can positively anticipate increased human exchange in the private sector. Therefore, it is important to establish an exchange relationship that enables mutual development between the two cities.”

In response, Mike Wakers, Mayor of Cottonwood Heights, said, “This agreement signifies that Yeonsu District has gained an opportunity to utilize the natural, economic, cultural, and social resources of Utah beyond Cottonwood Heights. We also look forward to experiencing and understanding the unlimited potential of Yeonsu District and building a sustainable exchange and cooperation relationship between the two cities.”

Meanwhile, Yeonsu District and Cottonwood Heights City signed a “Memorandum of Understanding for Friendly Cooperation” last September during the 10th anniversary event of the University of Utah Asia Campus.

Notably, through the proposal of Cottonwood Heights City and the active participation of the Urban Planning Department at the University of Utah Asia Campus, a working group for the “Cottonwood Heights City-Yeonsu District Sister Park Creation Project” was formed, aiming to collaborate on the creation of a park that embodies Korean landscape culture and aesthetics in the heart of Cottonwood Heights City, thereby maintaining close friendly relations.

[News Source: Incheon Yeonsu District]