Si Byung Yun speaks at a symposium on Changsha's open economy development. (Photo provided by Si Byung Yun) 

Si Byung Yun is a civil servant in South Korea. He has been dispatched to Changsha for work for more than a year. He described Changsha as a place" full of energy, vitality, and warmth".
 
Si is the chief representative of the Gumi (ROK) Representative Office in China. The office was located at the Changsha Hi-tech Industrial Zone (CSHT) International Science & Technology Business Platform in late 2020 when COVID-19 broke out. The platform rolled out warm measures, including one-stop approval procedures and preferential policies on rental, water, and electricity fees, which significantly eased Si's inadaptation as a newcomer.

"Though I have been in Changsha for only one year, I deeply felt the friendship between Changsha and Gumi and the bright prospect for bilateral cooperation," said Si Byung Yun.

Hunan and South Korea have been enjoying deep historical connections. Kim Koo, the founding father of South Korea, once lived at the Nanmuting on Chaozong Street, Changsha, which was the site of the Korean Provisional Government. In October 1998, Changsha City and Gyeongsangbuk-do's Gumi City established friendship-city relations. Over the past decades, the two cities had frequent high-level visits and exchanges in economy, trade, culture, and education. During the battle against COVID-19, in particular, Changsha and Gumi presented letters and supplies to each other to pull together through adversity.

As the most prominent electronic industrial city in inland South Korea, Gumi is developing emerging industries such as storage batteries, new energy, and carbon materials. "Changsha sees a bustle in intelligent manufacturing and makes remarkable investment in semiconductors and new energy batteries. As a rising industrial city, Changsha's industrial layout fully aligns with that of Gumi," Si said. He is engaged in promoting collaboration between the two cities in industry and hi-tech industries.

Si mentioned the platform and related departments' services and care of his office since it was established. "Changsha's business environment and talent policies are attractive for international capitals and talents," he added. In recent two years, he witnessed the opening of the China-Japan-South Korea Enterprises Exchange Center Changsha Branch, the first China-Japan-South Korea Quality Products Exhibition and Promotion Fair, and many other events.

Si Byung Yun and his family tour Hunan's Fenghuang County. (Photo provide by Si Byung Yun)

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Chinanews