By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Seocho-gu signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Seoul to create the Václav Havel Bench and promote bilateral friendship and cooperation in the 5th floor conference room of Seocho-gu Office on April 1.

The signing ceremony was attended by Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Seong-soo, Czech Ambassador to Korea Ivan Jančarek, attorney Lim Jung-hyuk of the Korea-Czech Future Forum, officials from the sponsor Hyundai Motor Company, the Seocho-gu International Exchange Council, and local residents.

After explaining the project, Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Seong-soo and Czech Ambassador to Korea Ivan Jančarek signed the MOU and exchanged the agreement and mutual souvenirs.

The agreement was signed to promote the successful construction of the 'Václav Havel Bench' in Yangjae-cheon, Seocho-gu, and to promote friendship and cooperation between the two organizations.

The Havel Bench will be built as a space to honor Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic and a revered figure who led democracy during the 1989 Czech Revolution, and to symbolize the values of openness and democracy.

It consists of a circular table and two chairs arranged around a tree, and is meant to convey the desire for people to meet in public spaces to engage in democratic dialog and exercise their freedom of expression.

It has been installed in 18 countries around the world, including the Czech Republic, the United States, Japan, and France, and will be installed for the first time in Korea in May in Yangjaecheon, Seocho-gu.

Seocho-gu has selected the location of the Havel Bench opposite the waterfront stage in Yangjae Stream, one of the most populated areas in the gu, so that many residents can feel the value of democracy.

With the signing of the MOU, the gu hopes to further boost cooperation between the two countries in the economic, industrial, and diplomatic fields, including the ongoing nuclear power plant cooperation between Korea and the Czech Republic.

“With this agreement, we hope that the Czech Embassy and Seocho-gu will move forward together as future-oriented partners,” said Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Seong-soo. ”Following the creation of the Vaclav Havel Bench, we will continue to identify common interests that can benefit both countries and work closely together.”