By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Busan City Mayor Park Hyung-jun met with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Mizushima on July 11 in the International Conference Room of City Hall and discussed interaction and cooperation between Busan and Japan.

Ambassador Koichi Mizushima visited Busan for the first time to attend the '2024 South Korea-USA-Japan Global Leadership Youth Summit' and met with Mayor Park on the same day.

Mayor Park thanked Ambassador Koichi for his visit to Busan and said, “I hope this event will deepen the bond between our two countries and serve as a good opportunity for young people to grow into global leaders.”

In response, Ambassador Koichi Mizushima said, “Next year will be the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Korea, and Busan is a city with deep ties to Japan, so let's cooperate further.” “Japan is also working to develop the startup industry to revitalize the region. As both countries have high technological capabilities, we will be able to exchange and cooperate in various fields.”

Busan City signed a sister city agreement with Shimonoseki City in 1976 and has since signed sister and friendship cooperation agreements with Fukuoka City, Osaka City, and Nagasaki Prefecture, and has been actively engaged in exchange programs such as youth go exchange competitions, donating Korean books, sending elementary school students abroad for training, and recreating the Chosun News Agency procession.