Daegu Metropolitan City Promotes Its Charm to Foreign Local Government Officials Participating in the 'Chimac Festival'

Daegu Metropolitan City welcomed 35 trainees from 10 countries participating in the K2H (KOREA HEART TO HEART) program, a foreign local government official training program. These trainees visited for a two-day event starting July 4th to partake in the 'Daegu Chimac Festival.'

This visit was part of a training program for foreign local government officials participating in K2H, organized in conjunction with the Chimac Festival by Daegu City.

The K2H (KOREA HEART TO HEART) program is a training initiative in which the Council of City and Provincial Governors of Korea and local governments invite foreign local government officials annually. The program introduces them to Korean culture, history, and advanced urban administration practices. Since 1999, Daegu has been promoting 'Global City Daegu' and activating city-to-city cooperation and exchange.

Following last year, Daegu City again aligned the K2H training with the Chimac Festival period this year, inviting foreign local government officials to introduce them to Daegu, the homeland of 'K-Chicken,' and to allow them to experience the passion and energy of Daegu.

The visitors included officials from various nationalities, including China, the Philippines, Germany, Australia, and South Africa.

Daegu City prepared meaningful programs for these guests that not only included the Chimac Festival but also visits to the Daegu Art Museum and experiences with traditional Korean tea ceremonies and Hanbok, providing a full experience of Daegu's culture and arts and an introduction to Korean traditions.

One of the participants, Mr. Zalso Roba from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, expressed his feelings, saying, "I felt a deep connection that has continued from the Korean War to here," and "I was deeply impressed by the warm hospitality of the people of Daegu and the vibrant festival atmosphere." Last June, Daegu City donated 100 million KRW to the Ethiopian refugee relief fund, acknowledging the historical ties with Ethiopia, one of the countries that fought with South Korea in the Korean War.

An Jung-gon, Director of Economic Affairs at Daegu Metropolitan City, commented, "I believe the government officials from various countries invited to the Chimac Festival would have been deeply impressed by the passion and charm of Daegu, the homeland of K-Chicken. I expect their understanding and affection for Daegu to be a stepping stone for expanding intercity exchanges and cooperation."