On October 11, U.S. Consul Nolan Barkhouse visited Jinju City, a city of history, culture, and art with its 1,000 year-old history, and paid a courtesy call on Mayor Cho Gyu-il. Consul and Mayor Cho shared views on growing U.S.-ROK cooperation in a variety of sectors and discussed opportunities for future engagement. Consul also attended the opening ceremony of Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival, which featured a spectacle of lanterns floating on the Nam River, commemorating the sacrifice of Josun Dynasty-era troops and citizens who died in Jinju during the Imjin War (1592–1598). Jinju City has been designated as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in recognition of its outstanding cultural and artistic assets.