Visit of Lord Mayor of Cork to Republic of Korea
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy visited the Republic of Korea
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy visited the Republic of Korea in May 2024. He was accompanied by Ms. Ann Doherty, Chief Executive of Cork City Council, and Mr. Dan Breen, Curator at Cork City Museum.
During the visit, the delegation travelled to the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a buffer zone that stretches across the Korean peninsula at the 38th parallel, the border agreed at the time of the Armistice Agreement, monitored by UN Command in collaboration with the armed forces of the Republic of Korea. The Lord Mayor was met by an officer from UN Command who gave an overview of the Joint Security Area.
The Lord Mayor also visited the War Memorial of Korea where he met with Director Dr. Baek Seong Joo and laid a wreath at the Irish Memorial, a tribute to the many Irishmen and those of Irish descent who fought during the Korean War. The Irish Memorial was erected in 2013, funded by the Irish Association of Korea.
Lord Mayor McCarthy attended a screening of the film 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley' at Korea University, where he and Dan Breen delivered remarks. The screening was fitting given the delegation's onward visit to Jeong-up City for the 3rd World Revolutionary City Solidarity Conference. The delegation also met with Corkonians living in Seoul at a small reception at the Ambassador’s residence.
During the visit, Chief Executive of Cork City Council, Ms. Ann Doherty met with Director General of Seoul City Transportation Office, Mr Yoon Bo-young where both sides exchanged on public transport strategies, including promotion of walking and cycling, development of bus transportation corridors, and light rail infrastructure.
The delegation then travelled to Jeong-up City where they attended the World Revolutionary City Solidarity Conference. The visit included a MoU signing between Cork City and Jeonge-up City, attendance at the World Revolutionary City Conference, and a visit to the Donghak Peasant Revolution Site, and Donghak Memorial Hall.