SEONGNAM — The city of Seongnam expanded the reach of its local-government diplomacy in Wroclaw, Poland, finding openings for both Korean defense exports and Korean culture.
Seongnam said on the 13th that a city delegation visited Wroclaw from the 8th to the 11th local time, signing a sister-city agreement and moving to broaden exchanges in the economy, industry, culture and sports.
The visit was intended to go beyond goodwill exchanges, laying groundwork for Seongnam companies to expand overseas while improving residents' quality of life and contributing to cooperation at the national level.
Wroclaw Mayor Jacek Sutryk told Shin Sang-jin, the mayor of Seongnam, that "a true partner is not made by documents alone" and that "firm trust is built when you meet in person and look each other in the eye."
Shin, in turn, stressed the role of local governments. "If national diplomacy has opened the path for security and economic cooperation, producing results on that path is the job of local governments that are closest to the ground," he said.
The most visible outcome of the visit came in the defense sector. The Seongnam Industry Promotion Agency and the Polish Chamber of National Defence Manufacturers signed a memorandum of understanding to build a framework for cooperation between companies on both sides. A briefing on defense exports held in Wroclaw drew officials from across Poland. Interest ran high enough that inquiries continued after the event, according to the city.
Shooting-range training systems and related technologies from Seongnam-based defense firms drew particular attention, as the prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine has heightened the need to strengthen civil defense capabilities in Poland. Seongnam also discussed applying local companies' school shooting-training systems and technologies at educational sites in Poland. The talks were seen as an attempt to extend defense cooperation beyond the military into education and safety.
Kim Deok-geun, chairman of the Seongnam Defense Industry Council, said the city "served as a buffer filling the gap between the government and the private sector." He added that "the Polish side treated Seongnam's defense companies as genuine partners, which makes future exchanges promising."
Seongnam also pressed ahead on the cultural front. On Oct. 10, it was the only Korean local government to take part in the first 2026 Korea Day Festival, held at the Centennial Hall convention center in Wroclaw.
The event, organized by the Korean Association in Poland, drew about 10,000 people. Lines of residents waiting to get in stretched outside the 1,000-seat performance hall. The Seongnam City Korean Traditional Music Orchestra performed seven pieces, including the folk ensemble work "Sinawi" and the percussion solo "Seoljanggu," showcasing the appeal of Korean traditional music. Local audiences responded with loud applause.
At a K-food event, tteokbokki and ramyeon sold out. Local residents were also seen taking part in random play dance to K-pop tracks, a sign of strong interest in Korean culture.
The city discussed sports exchanges as well, sharing its experience running a citizens' football club and exploring ways to expand sports exchanges between the two cities.
"What stood out was how many residents came to the first Korea Day event held in Poland and showed such passionate interest in Korean culture," Shin said. "Culture and the arts are an important channel through which different cities and their residents share their hearts and build friendship."
Seongnam plans to use the visit as a basis for continuing substantive exchanges with Wroclaw not only in the economy and industry but also in culture, the arts and sports.
"Starting from this sister-city agreement, we will pursue local-government diplomacy that acts," Shin said. "We will expand international cooperation that brings real benefits to Seongnam's companies and residents."