Dutch Cycling Embassy Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Nowon-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
23 January 2025As part of an official visit to the Netherlands by a delegation from Nowon-Gu, one of the 25 district municipalities of Seoul, led by Deputy Mayor Shin Jong-woo, the Dutch Cycling Embassy and Nowon-Gu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance their cooperation in the coming years. This agreement builds on International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett’s virtual contribution to the Nowon-Gu Bicycle-Friendly Cities International Symposium in October 2024 and the district’s declared ambition to become the most bike-friendly municipality in the Republic of Korea.
Signed by both parties at Utrecht City Hall on January 22nd, 2025, the MoU aims to facilitate policy exchange and mutual cooperation to promote bicycle usage, with the shared goal of building carbon-neutral cities and addressing the global climate crisis. Cooperation activities include, but are not limited to: identifying and sharing best practices, supporting the exchange of knowledge and policies, facilitating the exchange of professional personnel and material resources, and jointly exploring future-oriented action plans.
Following the signing, the delegation of 16 participants from Nowon-Gu, including policy advisors and civil servants, took a short walking tour of Utrecht led by Chris Bruntlett. The group visited key sites such as the former-motorway-turned-waterway along the Catharijnesingel, the busiest cycle path in the Netherlands at Vredenburg, and the world’s largest bicycle parking facility underneath Utrecht Centraal Station.
To conclude the program, Deputy Mayor Shin extended a warm invitation to the Dutch Cycling Embassy to visit Nowon-Gu in the spring of 2025, including a stop at the planned Bicycle Culture Centre, which is currently in the development phase.
