GREENVILLE, N.C. - Greenville Mayor Kandie Smith has designated a pair of citizens to serve as representatives of the City of Greenville for ceremonial purposes at the 8th Yeonsu Neungheodae Culture Festival September 23-24 in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea.

The designation is in response to an invitation to attend the festival from Yeonsu Mayor Lee Jae-Ho as part of a Sister Cities Friendship City Agreement that Greenville signed with Yeonsu in June.

In a letter sent Tuesday, Smith designated former Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas and Sister Cities Association of Greenville co-founder Byung Lee to represent Greenville at the festival. Thomas served as mayor for nearly six years, while Lee previously served on the Greenville Human Relations Council for six years. Each are funding the cost of the trip on their own.

"I regretfully will not be able to attend because of the prior commitment involving the City of Greenville hosting the North Carolina League of Municipalities Conference," Smith wrote in a letter to Mayor Lee Jae-Ho. "However, arrangements have been made for the City of Greenville to be represented at your festival."

The Yeonsu Neungheodae Culture Festival is held annually to recognize, remember and celebrate the Neungheodae Port and its historical significance to Yeonsu. The event includes many different activities, foods, music, concerts, and parades.

Officials from Yeonsu visited Greenville last November and again in June. During the June visit, a ceremonial signing ceremony was held during which the two cities officially agreed to become friendship cities for the purpose of creating exchanges and other opportunities that are mutually beneficial to both. The agreement was the first of its kind for the City of Greenville.