GWANGJU < invest Korea

According to Yonhap News,

(SEOUL=Yonhap News) An Independence Day ceremony held in the southwestern city of Gwangju offers a chance to celebrate the democratic values the United States shares with the people of the region, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul said Monday.

The city of Gwangju hosted the embassy's annual Independence Day ceremony on Monday for the first time, reflecting the growing friendship between the U.S. mission and the city, home to the nation's landmark pro-democracy uprising in 1980.

"The U.S. Embassy is pleased to join our friends in Gwangju this evening to commemorate our two countries' friendship and the 241 years since our independence," the embassy said in a statement. "This event offers a chance to celebrate with the people of Honam our shared democratic values and vibrant partnership." Honam refers to the region surrounding Gwangju.

"Although the U.S. Embassy is located in Seoul... we warmly embrace opportunities, such as tonight's event, to represent the U.S. throughout the country," the embassy said.

"This year we are very pleased to be able to include Gwangju as another very important regional center with its own unique and meaningful historical and cultural traditions," the embassy also said, mentioning that the annual event was held in Seoul and Busan in the past.

"We hope this event will contribute to the goodwill and partnership between the people of Honam and the people of the U.S.A.," it added.

pbr@yna.co.kr

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