Belleville’s friendship delegation to sister city Gunpo in South Korea has returned.
Mayor Neil Ellis made the trip, along with members of council and other community representatives, as part of an ongoing cultural exchange program.
Mayor Ellis said that the trip was incredible.
“This is the fourth time I’ve been and it’s hard to believe it seems to get better every time,” said Mayor Ellis. “It’s a beautiful city. They’re a great host.”
During the trip, the delegation was able to tour the area surrounding Gunpo, meeting with local officials and business people, while having the chance to partake in the annual Azalea Festival.
Mayor Ellis said that there was some interest in the business community in bringing authentic Korean barbecue to Belleville, with chefs preparing the food on a grill at the customer’s table.
“We actually had a group of restaurant owners that are interested about Korean barbecue and it’s something that I guess we have a little bit in bigger cities, but we don’t have it here,” said Mayor Ellis. “They are interested in how they could invest in that type of restaurant.”
The mayor was also impressed by a tour of the local Hyundai factory and with the automation in the production process in particular.
Delegations from Gunpo come to Belleville occur every four years. The next delegation is expected in 2027.
