Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
The main goal of Oh Se-hoon's tenure as Seoul mayor is embodied in his catchphrase "A Clean, Attractive and Global City, Seoul."
In an interview with The Korea Times, Oh elaborated on his commitment to generate more cultural diversity in the nation's capital, accommodating over 10 million residents and 6.9 million visitors.
The mayor also highlighted environment-friendliness, use of information technology (IT) and consideration of women as his primary policy agenda.
Korea Times: There are many advanced cities in the world with distinct characteristics. Which city could be the role model for Seoul?
Mayor Oh: There is no role model city for Seoul. I asked civil servants not to use the phrase so that they will not copy other advanced cities, since Seoul is an advanced city. It might sound like I am holding my head high, but it is reality.
Cities, such as New York, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong, are ahead of us in some aspects.
However, Seoul is leading the issues of the 21st century from the aspect of sustainability such as environmental-friendliness, information technology (IT) and women. We also make the most out of Namsan and the Han River, the natural resources of Seoul.
We have been busy shaping the city and are now introducing the idea of design. For example, Seoul is visualizing its long history through Gwanghwamun Plaza and Dongdaemun Design Park and making more green space along the riverside and downtown.
In other words, Seoul is transforming into a contents-centered city and has passed the stage of just envying other leading cities. We can refer to good policies of other excellent cities, but a metropolis of more than 10 million cannot just benchmark a certain city.
Korea Times: What is Seoul doing to provide a better environment for foreigners living here or visiting the city?
Mayor Oh: Basically, the "Global Zone" project seeks to provide areas where foreigners have less language problems in their favorite places. There are three kinds of Global Zones - Global Business Zone, Global Exchange Zone and Global Village Zone. The most well-known one among expatriates living here is the Global Village Zone.
There are Global Village Centers in each zone, working as a community center headed by a foreigner. Seoul Global Center, located at the Press Center in downtown, supervises five global village centers and two multicultural village centers. The centers support foreigners living here in various ways.
Since the village centers in Yeoksam, Itaewon, Yeonnam and Ichon have been receiving positive reactions from expatriates, the city added a multicultural village center in Yeongdeungpo in September and plans to open another one at Seongbuk in November.
The Global Business Zone offers administrative affairs for enterprises in various foreign languages. Currently, the downtown area near city hall, financial center in Yeouido, LG Tower and COEX on Teheran Street are designated as business zones.
The Global Exchange Zones are tourist spots such as Myeongdong and Insadong where clerks speak foreign languages such as English, Chinese and Japanese.In addition, the city operates 20 foreigners' schools and rental apartments only for expatriates are available at Sangam Digital Media City (DMC).
Korea Times: Seoul has held large international events such as the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit and World Design Capital. What can the city gain from hosting such events?
Mayor Oh: Major cities participate in such international events and it is a good chance to promote Seoul globally and raise the image of the city through these events well.
Seoul successfully completed the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit in May and announced the "Seoul Declaration." As a result, the city earned a brand image as a leading city in fighting climate change and it is an invaluable gain.
To attract the summit here, I mailed the C40 secretariat, chairman and other participating cities in advance to let them know about the eco-friendly projects in Seoul to try to show that Seoul has a strong interest to hold the event.
I try to promote Seoul's appeal when I tour various cities three to four times a year. I meet the head of the visiting cities and publicize how Seoul is changing, especially in the culture, design, IT and environmental fields.
Korea Times: How is Seoul's reputation in international society?
Mahor Oh: When I talk with the mayors of other cities, I feel their assessment on Seoul has changed. It is not conventional but they actually send their staffers to learn our know-how and benchmark our system.
In early October, the city won the Habitat Scroll of Honor Special Citation presented by UN-HABITAT, for restoring Nanjido, the Cheonggye Stream and developing a long-term rental housing system. The Bukchon Project, restoring traditional Korean houses downtown, received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award last month. Seoul also received UN Public Service Awards for its water system and online proposal system in July.
Putting these efforts together, Seoul marked ninth among 60 major cities worldwide in the Global Cities Index, rated by consulting firm A.T. Kearney and magazine "Foreign Policy."
Since Seoul has become recognized internationally, I will make more creative and innovative attempts to make this metropolis the world's leading city.
Korea Times: You made it clear that you will try to be reelected next year. What is the reason for such an early decision?
Mahor Oh: I showed my intention to get reelected shortly after one year in office. It was not a judicious decision, but I concluded that four years is too short to change Seoul. It takes seven to eight years to reconstruct an apartment complex and it is impossible to transform a city in just four years.
There are many mayors who are reelected and rule over the city for decades. For example, Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago has been reelected six times and led many changes successfully.
Especially, designomics and culturenomics, which are the basis of Seoul's attempt to go global, are 20-to-30 year projects. I think the beginning mayor should set up the foundation firmly to continue the projects.
meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
Who Is Oh Se-hoon?
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon graduated from the College of Law at Korea University and also earned his master’s and doctor’s degree in law at the graduate school of the same university.
He worked as a lawyer and law professor and also advised environmental civic groups. In 2000, he became a lawmaker of the Grand National Party.
Oh was elected as the 33rd Mayor of Seoul in 2006. His major accomplishments include the Han River and Namsan Renaissance Project, implementing design in city administration and globalizing the city.
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