By Kang Seung-woo
Seoul came in 16th Tuesday in the Cities of Opportunities 2011, a joint analysis of the development of 26 cities worldwide by global auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Partnership of New York, a network of business leaders.
According to the annual study, the capital of Korea scored 882 points in 10 categories ranging from intellectual capital and innovation to economic clout and lifestyle assets.
New York topped the list with 1,226 points, followed by Toronto and San Francisco, which sat at 1,195 and 1,172, respectively.
Korea, ranked 13th last year, performed exceptionally in technological readiness, finishing second to New York, while making the top 10 in transportation and infrastructure with ninth place.
The city topped the charts in recycling waste, one of the details in the sustainability indicator, where it came in 13th.
Singapore became Asia’s leading point getter with 1,067 points, which is the ninth best in the world, while neighboring Tokyo and Beijing finished 14th and 17th, respectively.
“The study shows that Seoul is coming up with success in various policies,” Samil PwC Chairman Ahn Kyung-tae said.
“But Seoul needs to flex its muscle in lifestyle assets.”