As the spectacular 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) kicked off on July 3, Bucheon City simultaneously held a 'Sister Cities Harmony Day' event to strengthen its strong ties with domestic sister cities. This initiative was designed not just to commemorate the film festival's opening, but also to solidify friendship and cooperation among the participating cities.

A total of 38 delegates from seven sister cities, including Jindo County (Jeollanam-do), Muju County (Jeollabuk-do), Bonghwa County (Gyeongsangbuk-do), Okcheon County (Chungcheongbuk-do), Gangneung City (Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province), Gongju City (Chungcheongnam-do), and Hwaseong City (Gyeonggi-do), visited Bucheon for the event. They shared deep friendship with Bucheon City, participating in a welcoming dinner and the film festival's opening ceremony to celebrate the successful launch of the 29th BIFAN. Attendees experienced a meaningful time, deepening their camaraderie through the cultural content of film.

This 'Sister Cities Harmony Day' transcended a simple gathering for fellowship; it served as a crucial platform for sharing each city's unique culture and policies, and for expanding the scope of mutual cooperation. Delegates from the participating cities pledged to solidify the foundation for mutual development through regular meetings and continuous collaboration. This is expected to be a practical stepping stone for 'citizen-centric exchange,' which Bucheon City aims to achieve.

Bucheon Mayor Cho Yong-ik emphasized at the event, "Bucheon City has consistently pursued mutually beneficial cooperation with its sister cities in various fields such as economy, policy, and tourism." He added, "Moving forward, we will actively promote exchanges so that the trust and friendship between our cities can lead to tangible benefits for our citizens." Mayor Cho's remarks are interpreted as a clear indication of his commitment to generating practical outcomes that positively impact citizens' lives, extending beyond mere administrative convenience in inter-city relations.

Meanwhile, Bucheon City continues its active win-win cooperation with its sister cities. Notably, through the operation of direct farm produce markets, the city introduces excellent agricultural products from each region to its citizens, contributing to the revitalization of local economies. Additionally, a mutual discount system for tourist facility usage allows citizens of sister cities to enjoy economic benefits when visiting each other's cities. Beyond this, cultural and human exchanges, such as mutual visits by delegates and dispatch of performance groups, broaden understanding between cities and seek opportunities for mutual development.

The 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival will be held for 11 days, from July 3rd to July 13th. This year, under the slogan 'It's Okay to Be Strange,' a record 257 films from 47 countries will be screened. During the festival, Bucheon City is expected to offer a variety of auxiliary events in addition to film screenings, providing abundant entertainment for citizens and visitors from sister cities. The 'Sister Cities Harmony Day' event lays a crucial foundation for the successful hosting of the film festival, presenting a model example of regional co-prosperity through cultural exchange.

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