By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Iksan Mayor Jung Heon-yul met with EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez on Aug. 1 to discuss international medical and cultural exchanges and decentralization of local education.

Ambassador Fernandez is from Spain and was appointed as the EU Ambassador to the Republic of Korea in 2020 after serving as the EU Ambassador to Malaysia and the Director General of the European External Relations Agency (EEAS) for India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

Prior to the meeting, Ambassador Fernández visited Wonkwang University with Representative Kang Kyung-sook of the National Assembly's Education Committee to hear views on bridging the education gap concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area and the globalization of local education. She also showed interest in Iksan's educational and cultural resources by visiting Mireuksaji, a cultural heritage site.

At the mayor's office, Mayor Jung and Ambassador Fernandez discussed ways to promote overseas training in the medical field centered on Wonkwangdae Oriental Medicine, as well as cultural exchanges between Europe and Iksan.

In addition, Mayor Chung requested interest and cooperation in the designation of Wonkwang University as a Global University 30, which is being promoted with the vision of a global base university for the biotechnology industry. He also emphasized the importance of promoting the education development special zone, a current issue, and suggested that the necessary projects for regional education innovation be carried out smoothly.

Mayor Jung said, "It was a meaningful time to share Iksan's policies and future vision and discuss various ways to cooperate. We will do our best to secure competitiveness and expand international exchanges based on the region's excellent educational and cultural resources."