Gangwon - Alberta Relations

This map is a generalized illustration only and is not intended to be used for reference purposes. The representation of political boundaries does not necessarily reflect the position of the Government of Alberta on international issues of recognition, sovereignty or jurisdiction.

PROFILE than that of Canadian provinces. RELATIONSHIP OVERVIEW . There are 18 administrative districts in Capital: Chuncheon . The Alberta-Gangwon cooperation began in Gangwon (7 cities with populations over the 1970s with a joint beef ranching Population: 1.54 million (2014) (only 3.2 per 50,000 and 11 counties). cent of South Korea’s total population) demonstration project. . Similar to parts of Alberta, Gangwon has . The 1974 formation of the Alberta-Gangwon Language: Korean heavily forested areas. Just under 20 per cent sister province relationship was the first for of the land in Gangwon is available for farming Government: Presidential System Alberta. Most activities have involved and other uses. Gangwon province has a land education, culture and sport exchanges, but Head of Government: Governor CHOI Moon- mass of 16,874 square kilometers; roughly 17 have expanded into research, science and soon (elected April 2011; re-elected June 2014) per cent of the total area in South Korea. technology, and business relations. Gangwon consists of about 81.6 per cent, or Currency: CAD $1 = 871.1 South Korean Won (2017 average) 13,782 km square km of forest. Only 8.4 per . As a Centennial gift to Alberta (2005), and to cent of the land is for farming, and 10 per cent mark the 30th anniversary of the Alberta- Key Industry Sectors: Tourism, livestock, is for other uses. Gangwon sister province relationship (2004), agriculture, fishing, mining, manufacturing and Gangwon constructed a wooden Korean-style bioengineering . With a population of approximately 273,130 jeongja (pavilion) which is located on the (2012), the capital city of Chuncheon has Sources: grounds of Government House. about 1/3 of the population of Edmonton. Bank of Canada, Economist Intelligence Unit, Government of Gangwon . In July 2015, Vice-Governor KIM Jeongsam of . Gangwon has sister province relationships Gangwon visited Edmonton where he and the with Mpumalanga in South Africa, Jilin in DID YOU KNOW? Premier of Alberta signed the 40th anniversary China, Totori Prefecture in Japan, Primorskii Protocol of Reaffirmation of the sister province . Pyeongchang County in the province of Territory in Russia and Colorado in the United relationship between Gangwon and Alberta. Gangwon will host the 2018 Winter Olympics. States. . Pyeongchang is located southeast of Seoul in . In 2012, Alberta and Gangwon signed an . Gangwon Province is working to become a the southern part of Gangwon’s Taebaek agreement for a friendship sport exchange "Global Bio & Healthcare Industrial Capital" Mountain region. At 700 meters above sea- between the provinces. and to create the foundation for encouraging level, Pyeongchang’s mountains are the low-carbon, green growth. centre for winter sports and are referred to as TRADE AND INVESTMENT “Korea’s Alps.” . Part of Gangwon’s regional development . Trade between Alberta and Gangwon is limited strategy is based on building a knowledge- . Gangwon was divided during the Korean War and indirect, mainly involving agriculture and based industrial cluster through a multi-core (1950-53). One-third of the province’s former food products. territory is in North Korea. structure, with three core cities (Chuncheon, Wonju and Gangneung) forming a "Techno . Following the lead of the national South . South Korean provinces have gained more Valley Triangle." Korean government, Gangwon is streamlining autonomy since 1995 although the scope of their responsibilities still is considerably less

November 2017 | Input provided by Alberta Ministries of: Agriculture and Forestry; Education; Energy; Economic Development and Trade; Culture and Tourism; Advanced Education

its regulations in an effort to attract foreign . Approximately $1.5 million has been hone their English language teaching skills. investment and capital. contributed to 11 projects through the Alberta- Gangwon Collaboration Program since 2005. . In 2014, Alberta collaborated with Gangwon in ENERGY Funding has supported researchers and/or developing a Children’s Art Exhibition, companies in Alberta and Gangwon to celebrating 40 years of international . Gangwon, with the best wind power resources collaborate on various projects. partnership. in Korea, has highly advantageous condition in developing the province into a wind power . Alberta-Gangwon Technology Forums were . Launched during International Education Week generation hub in Korea. In 2015, Gangwon held in 2005 (Gangwon), 2006 (Alberta) and in 2017, the Think Globally Art Contest had deployed the largest number of wind power 2012 (Alberta) resulting in joint business and students reflect and illustrate what Alberta’s plants in Korea with 125 units. The province research and development projects. Olympic and Paralympic spirit meant to them, plans to increase it by more than double by in celebration of the 2018 games in 2018. EDUCATION Pyeongchang.

AGRICULTURE . Advanced Education provides funding to SPORTS AND CULTURE Alberta post-secondary institutions through the . In September 2017, a Canadian Agri-Food Campus Alberta Grant for International . In June/July of 2015, a biathlon delegation, Promotion event was held at the Alpensia Learning which allows institutions to develop including ten athletes from Alberta, visited PyeongChang Resort in Gangwon province, short-term study abroad programs in other Gangwon. Korea. The event, organized by Alberta in countries including Korea. partnership with the Canadian Embassy, and . In April 2015, a delegation from Gangwon other provincial and industry partners, was . In spring 2017, UCalgary signed a short-term visited Alberta and met with officials from the timed to begin with the “D-150 countdown” to English Language Learning Program Ministry of Seniors to discuss policies, service the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic games agreement with the Gangwon Province Human practices and management/operation of in PyeongChang. The program on September Resource Development Centre (GHRDC). facilities for senior citizens. 12 included a reopening ceremony for the Government representatives from the GHRDC Alberta Wood Pavilion signage, wish wall for completed English training on campus. . In December 2014, Alberta hosted Gangwon the success of the games, Canada Culture athletes, coaches and government personnel Zone, musical performances and an agri-food . In July 2013, students from Gangwon visited as part of an Alberta-Gangwon Biathlon promotion featuring Alberta beef. Alberta as part of Gangwon’s Global Leader exchange. Program. In Edmonton, they met with officials FORESTRY from International and Intergovernmental . Since 1974, Alberta has participated in Relations, and were introduced to the history numerous sports exchanges with Gangwon, . The 40th anniversary of the Alberta-Gangwon of the relationship between Alberta and including alpine and nordic skiing, whitewater sister province relationship was celebrated in Gangwon. canoeing, wrestling, golf, boxing, soccer, 2014 with the unveiling of a wooden pavilion tennis, team handball, fencing and cycling. gifted from Alberta to Gangwon province. . In July 2015, UCalgary welcomed a delegation from Gangwon to recognize their support of . In April 2012, the Ambassador of Korea to . The pavilion was constructed outside of the the Schulich School of Engineering research. Canada and the Director General of the Alpensia Resort, a VIP site where visiting The partnership between Alberta and Gangwon Bureau of International Cooperation dignitaries and media will be housed during Gangwon includes joint funding of research, accompanied the Gangwon Provincial the 2018 Winter Olympics. which benefits Schulich School of Engineering Orchestra, a traditional Korean performance group, to Edmonton and Calgary for “Alberta . The wooden pavilion also continued the researchers working in the area of biomedical Caravan” cultural performances, as part of the tradition of using wood in Centennial projects engineering. celebrations for the 50th anniversary of first used in the Korea-style jeongja, built Canada-Korea relations in 2013. The Director outside Government House in 2005 to . In July 2012, a group of university students General met with provincial counterparts to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the sister from Gangwon visited Alberta as part of the discuss future cooperation projects related to province relationship. Global Leader Program. They were hosted by Mt. Royal University in Calgary, and met with Gangwon’s hosting of the 2018 Winter SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY government officials, attended the Calgary Olympics in Pyeongchang. Stampede, and took part in various Olympic- . Alberta’s Ministry of Advanced Education related events. COMMUNITY provides support for an international research collaboration between the University of . Since 2012, Mount Royal University welcomed . Approximately 12,340 Albertans are of Korean Calgary (UCalgary) and the Korean company participants on the Global Leaders Program, a descent. M & D, based in Gangwon. The project training program initiated by Gangwon . Active Korean community associations have focuses on measuring cancer cells and tissue Province in South Korea to train provincial been established in Calgary and Edmonton. In samples to measure biomarker expression in government officials who will be a part of the addition to providing assistance to newly real-time. 2018 PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic arrived immigrants, these associations help to Winter Games. The program is expected to promote Korean culture and provide support to . In April 2012, the Government of Alberta continue until 2017. hosted a delegation from the Gangwon Korean business owners. Technopark as part of an ongoing . Since 1984, UAlberta’s Kangwon Teachers of collaborative research and commercialization Education Program has helped over 400 initiative. Gangwon Province teachers

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