The Economic Development Department had the shared opportunity with the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to host Mayor Seok-jin Mun of Seodaemun district along with Nam-Hee Oh, Director of Administration Support Division and Bo-Ra Lee Coordinator of External Affairs during their recent visit to Athens.

While in Athens, Mayor Mun and his two delegation members met with UGA President Morehead and UGA Vice President for Public Service and Outreach Jennifer Frum, visited the Athens Community Career Academy for a conversation with Clarke County Schools Superintendent Philip D. Lanoue, and toured cultural, recreational, and educational facilities throughout Athens. They also had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion regarding economic development collaborations in Athens-Clarke County. 

The trip was coordinated by the Carl Vinson Institute which works to help nations in transition strengthen municipal and administrative capability. The Institute brings scholars and practitioners to Georgia to help officials understand and respond to global trends affecting the state. They have an ongoing relationship with Seodaemun District and have worked with elected officials from Seodaemun to establish best practices through idea and government official exchange. 

The main purpose of the visit was to formalize a partnership with Athens-Clarke County. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between Athens-Clarke County Unified Government and Seodaemun District of South Korea was held on June 5, 2015.  The MOU forms a comprehensive cooperative agreement between the governments to promote future collaboration and was facilitated by the Carl Vinson Institute. 

The MOU commits Athens-Clarke County and Seodaemun to promoting cultural and educational exchange between the two cities, promoting a economic development partnership, sharing policy ideas and innovations, and enhancing cooperative exchange to establish mutually beneficial relationship for the future. The MoU was signed by Mayor Nancy Denson of Athens-Clarke County and Mayor Seok-jin Mun of Seodaemun.

“I am confident that through the signing of this MOU we can begin efforts to develop even stronger relationships and friendships between the people of Athens and Seodaemun. I assure you that the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County will be expeditious in successfully implementing this MOU“, shared Mayor Nancy Denson.

This partnership is a huge opportunity for Athens and Seodaemun and the beginning of great new things to come. Economic Development Director Ryan Moore expresses that “it is our intent that this new formal partnership will bring about exchange and cooperation that will eventually be leveraged to create economic development opportunities for the citizens of both communities and ultimately result in increased foreign trade.”