The International Flower Arrangement Competition held in Shinan County, South Jeolla Province, has expanded beyond a showcase for domestic and international floral artists to foster tourism and cultural exchanges with diplomatic delegations in South Korea, paving the way for enhanced international cooperation.
Shinan County concluded the 26th International Flower Arrangement Competition, held from October 17 to 18 at the 1004 Islands Bonsai Garden, and discussed ongoing tourism exchange initiatives with six participating diplomatic delegations.
Themed "Flowers, Art, Shinan," the competition featured 53 teams from around the world showcasing their works across four categories. Noh Hye-rim, a florist from Busan, received the Prime Minister's Award.
Notably, a special exhibition attended by the spouses of six ambassadors in South Korea became a platform for international cultural exchange through floral art. Joan Margaret Mitchell, the spouse of the Dutch ambassador, participated for the second consecutive year and received the Shinan County Mayor's Award in the general category.
The significance of this event extended beyond the flower arrangement competition.
Following the opening ceremony, the diplomatic delegations from Mexico, the Czech Republic, Japan, and Canada, along with the spouses of the ambassadors from the Netherlands and Latvia, toured Shinan's major tourist attractions over a two-day, one-night itinerary.
They experienced traditional fishing techniques at Dunjang Beach on Jaeun Island and participated in programs such as barefoot walking on the beach and visiting the Museum Garden, immersing themselves in Shinan's natural beauty and local culture.
Subsequently, they held a "Global Tourism Exchange Meeting" with Shinan County Mayor Kim Tae-sung at the Family Center in Aphae, discussing strategies for attracting foreign tourists and expanding international cooperation.
During the meeting, participants emphasized the need to develop Shinan's pristine natural environment and local specialties into international tourism products.
Philip Laporte, the Canadian ambassador to South Korea, expressed interest in local ingredients such as salt, seaweed, and figs from Shinan.
Ivan Janacek, the Czech ambassador, noted, "For landlocked Czechs, the sea in Shinan is very appealing," suggesting that the region's clean ingredients and food culture could enhance its tourism competitiveness.
Carlos Peña-Piel, the Mexican ambassador, requested information to identify potential sister cities in Mexico for collaboration with Shinan.
Koichi Mizushima, the Japanese ambassador, highlighted the traditional fishing experience on Jaeun Island as an example of specialized programs that could attract foreign tourists by engaging with local residents.
The diplomatic delegations also stressed the importance of providing multilingual tourism information and enhancing overseas promotion through global online platforms like Google.
Shinan County plans to develop cultural and tourism exchange initiatives that connect the embassies of the six participating countries with its major islands based on the suggestions made during the meeting.
Mayor Kim Tae-sung expressed gratitude for the valuable proposals and encouragement from the diplomatic delegations, stating, "We will establish concrete plans for ongoing cultural and tourism exchanges by matching the embassies of the six countries with Shinan's major islands."
He added, "This competition, which showcased Shinan's cultural and artistic tourism value through floral art, will serve as a stepping stone for Shinan to become a global K-Shinan destination that attracts visitors from around the world."
Meanwhile, Shinan County aims to expand international exchanges linked to its island tourism resources and local culture, leveraging the recent International Flower Arrangement Competition and the visit from the diplomatic delegations. The challenge remains to develop specific exchange projects and action plans that can lead to actual tourist attraction and regional economic revitalization.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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