Two Korean firefighters who work for the Seoul Metropolitan Government will be sent to the Los Angeles fire department next year as part of the expanded cooperation in disaster prevention between the two cities signed on Monday.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and his Los Angeles counterpart Eric Garcetti signed an agreement in Seoul to cooperate in disaster prevention as well as tourism, urban security, cultural programs and environmental issues.

“The Los Angeles fire department is known for its excellent services,” said Yoo Mi-ock from the SMG. 

“The selected (Korean) firefighters will be working as part of their team in Los Angeles and learn about their disaster prevention strategies and programs.”

The firefighters will be sent either late next year or in early 2016, and will stay for about three months in Los Angeles, according to Yoo.

Seoul, in return, will accommodate requests from Los Angeles in specific areas of expertise, including culture, tourism and urban security to expand cooperation, Yoo said.

Also on Monday, Garcetti was awarded honorary citizenship of Seoul. “I hope Mr. Garcetti will foster even more exchanges between the two cities as he is now an honorary Seoul citizen,” said Mayor Park.

The two cities signed a city cooperation agreement back in 2006 to undertake cultural and economic exchanges in various fields.

In September, Park announced that a portion of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster “Star Trek 3” will be filmed in Seoul, after meeting with its producer Jeffrey Chernov in Los Angeles and signing the deal.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)