County Executive Announces Sister City Agreement with Dangjin, Korea

Bergen County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan announced a “sister city promotion agreement” Wednesday between Bergen County and Dangjin City in South Korea.

Officials said the agreement is part of an effort “to exchange initiatives on economics, culture, arts and sports.”

“Our goal is to seek a mutual understanding between our cultures,” Donovan said in a statement announcing the agreement. “The heritage of Bergen County is made up of the citizens in our seventy municipalities, and it has become a melting pot of cultures.”

She added, “We are delighted to take the opportunity to reach out beyond our borders to experience Dangjin.”

The small city on Korea's west coast is considered a popular tourist destination, known as a good place to take pictures of sunrises and sunsets because of its “unique location and cove” on the southern shore of the Bay of Asan, according to Donovan.

The city is also known for its fruit, and especially for producing shitake mushrooms, she said, noting their popularity in the West.

“The people of Dangjin City are an energetic people with exciting ideas,” Donovan said. “We are honored to establish a cultural exchange. We believe there is much we can share with their citizens and government and much we can learn from them, which can benefit our county.”