Gyeonggi Province and the Province of British Columbia in Canada held a special signing ceremony to confirm their sisterhood relationship. Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell held a “Signing Ceremony for the Gyeonggi Province-British Columbia Sisterhood Relationship” at Hwaseong-Haenggung Palace in Suwon on May 19, 2008. The two leaders agreed to cooperate in diverse sectors, including the economy, culture, tourism, urban development, and the environment. The newly signed sisterhood relationship was expanded from the MOU on economic cooperation signed by the two regions in 1997.

Governor Kim welcomed the delegation at the offices of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, and guided the delegation of more than 50 members, including Premier Campbell, to Naknamheon of Hwaseong-Haenggung Palace. A traditional royal carriage parade of King Jeongjo’s reign during the Joseon Dynasty was reproduced as the welcoming ceremony for the delegation. Both leaders visited Naknamheon, where the king used to reside, for the signing ceremony. Governor Kim also conferred Honorary Citizenship on Premier Campbell.

Members of British Columbia’s provincial government, legislative assembly, and business circles were impressed by the Korean traditional honor guard and the traditional band, Chuitadae. When they walked from Sinpungru, the gate of Hwaseong-Haenggung Palace, to Naknamheon, many were took pictures of Geonjungki, the machine used to build Hwaseong Fortress, and of the beautiful views of Hwaseong-Haenggung Palace.

Governor Kim said, “This is the first sisterhood relationship building ceremony that I have been involved with that has been held in a Korean traditional style. I have enjoyed this even more than I enjoyed my inauguration. I hope that you fully enjoy the beauty of Hwaseong Fortress, a world cultural heritage site.” Premier Campbell said, “This is the warmest hospitality that I have ever received. I hope that our two regions maintain close ties.”

In the session following the signing ceremony, Governor Kim conferred Honorary Gyeonggi Citizenship on Premier Campbell, saying “We present this citizenship in the hope that you will not forget Gyeonggi Province.” Premier Campbell expressed his gratitude, saying “I will never forget this for as long as I live.”

Governor Kim called a foreign employee of the Province to Naknamheon, and introduced him to the delegation. Governor Kim said, “He is a Canadian, and he is happily married to a woman in Gyeonggi Province. His wife works in Suwon City Hall, and he was recruited to work in the Provincial Government.”

Premier Campbell responded by saying, “We also have a Korean, Charles Kim, in our delegation. I hope that these two employees will serve as a bridge for close cooperation between our two regions. I hope that the citizens of our two regions will engage in active exchanges in the future.”

In the evening, Governor Kim invited the delegation, who had spent the day making field trips to Samsung Electronics and Gwanggyo Techno Valley, and participating in investor presentations on new and renewable energy, to the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center. The Governor hosted dinner with Korean traditional performances including Buchaechum (fan dance) and Samulnori (traditional percussion quartet) to celebrate the friendship between two regions.

British Columbia is located on the west coast of Canada, and Victoria and Vancouver are the largest cities in the province. The number of Korean residents living in British Columbia is estimated to be between 50,000 and 65,000.