Kim Dong-yeon, the Governor of Gyeonggi Province (second from the left), is seen taking a commemorative photo with Kim Young-rok, the former Governor of Jeollanam-do (second from the right) during a visit to Gyeonggi Province on the 23rd.
Gyeonggi Province announced that Kim Young-rok visited Gyeonggi Province office on the 23rd to work as an honorary Governor for a day. Governor Kim Dong-yeon warmly welcomed Kim Young-rok and presented him with an ‘Honorary Governor of Gyeonggi Province’ certificate.
As the Honorary Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Kim Young-rok presided over the ‘Gyeonggi Province and Jeollanam-do Joint Executive Meeting,’ received work reports from officials in Gyeonggi Province, and approved the ‘Gyeonggi-Jeollanam Eco-friendly Agricultural Product Contract Farming Expansion’ plan as the 1st approval.
The first approved plan includes increasing the supply of Jeollanam’s agricultural products such as potatoes, melons, onions, cabbage, strawberries, tomatoes, and bananas to Gyeonggi Province’s school meals. The detailed supply plan aims to increase the supply by 100 tons annually from 69 tons in July 2021 to 500 tons in 2028.
Governor Kim Dong-yeon introduced his connection with Governor Kim Young-rok, who served as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries during his time as Deputy Prime Minister of Economy. He expressed his gratitude for Governor Kim Young-rok accepting the request to be the Honorary Governor for a day.
Governor Kim Dong-yeon mentioned his long-standing connection with Jeollanam-do and emphasized the historical significance of the region in protecting the country during the Imjin War. He expressed hope for expanded mutual cooperation between Gyeonggi Province and Jeollanam-do.
In response, Governor Kim Young-rok expressed gratitude for being nominated as the Honorary Governor of Gyeonggi Province and pledged efforts to create a new model for mutual cooperation that would lead both regions towards a better future.
The cooperative efforts between the two regions have been diverse, including the active utilization of Jeollanam’s agricultural products in Gyeonggi Province’s school meals, the sale of various products in the ‘Market Gyeonggi: Gyeonggi-Jeollanam Cooperation Corner,’ and the development of tourism products like the ‘Deep Purple’ rose developed by Gyeonggi Agricultural Technology Institute.
Additionally, the two regions signed a cooperation agreement in 10 fields in October 2022, aiming to implement cooperation in areas such as urban air mobility, renewable energy activation, marine leisure sports industry, agricultural product supply expansion, online agricultural and special product cooperative markets, tourism cooperation, and more.
Kim Min-seok, the spokesperson of Gyeonggi Province, mentioned that Governors Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Young-rok have consistently been ranked in the top 3 of the metropolitan area administrations’ evaluation. In a survey conducted by Realmeter in July, Governor Kim Dong-yeon ranked first (59.5%) and Governor Kim Young-rok ranked third (57.2%) in terms of job performance approval.
Regarding their meal together, representative dishes included Damyang rice from Jeollanam-do, Yeosu fresh kimchi, and Suwon Hwaseong bread. The menu symbolized the collaboration between Gyeonggi Province and Jeollanam-do, with the shared purpose of mutual growth.