Iloilo City solidifies partnership with South Korean district

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Iloilo City government has forged a sister-city bond with Dobong-gu, an administrative district of Seoul, South Korea.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding occurred on Tuesday, March 5, at Iloilo City Hall.

The ceremony included both local chief executives, Mayor Jerry Treñas and Dobong-gu Mayor Oh Un-seok, along with officials from both cities.

Mayor Treñas shared that the agreement is a pivotal step for cultural exchanges, business opportunities, and technology expertise sharing.

“This agreement represents our genuine commitment to building a lasting friendship between our cities. It is a testament to our confidence in fostering mutual understanding towards our shared vision for progress,” said Treñas.

With translation assistance, Mayor Oh emphasized the agreement’s significance, aligning with the 75th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and South Korea.

He voiced expectations for reciprocal cultural, educational, and economic exchanges with Iloilo City.

“We anticipate that this agreement between Iloilo [City] and Dobong-gu will serve as a significant impetus for substantial cooperation in their social sectors, including education, economy, culture, and sports,” Mayor Oh said.

“We anticipate that this agreement between Iloilo [City] and Dobong-gu will serve as a significant impetus for substantial cooperation in their social sectors, including education, economy, culture, and sports,” Oh said in his speech.

The partnership was first hinted at by Mayor Treñas in May 2023 and marks Iloilo City’s 38th sister city globally.

Conversely, Dobong-gu counts Iloilo City as its second sister city, after the Changping district in Beijing, China.

Iloilo City’s other international sister cities include: Stockton City, California, (1956), Seattle, Washington, USA (1980), Agat, Guam, USA (1994), Icheon, South Korea (1995), Qingdao, China (2000), Brisbane, Australia (2000), Hsinchu, China (2002), Tongyeong City, South Korea (2003), Guigang City, China (2004), Bilbao, Spain (2007), Kaoshiung, Taiwan (2007), Guangxi region, China (2010), Daly City, California (2011), Huaibei, China (2012), Dededo, Guam (2012), Palembang, Indonesia (2016), Quanzhou, China (2020), Wuhan, China (2021).

Dobong-gu, established in 1973, lies in Seoul’s northeastern region. It is known for the forthcoming Seoul Arena, a venue exclusively for K-pop music events. The arena will boast a seating capacity of 18,000 and standing room for 28,000, managed by Kakao.

Notable individuals from Dobong-gu include singer and actor Lee Seung-gi and K-pop group members Lee Taemin of SHINee, Son Hyun-woo (Shownu) of MONSTA X, and Yoon San-ha of ASTRO.