Interview Bogota mayor seeks to strengthen trade, cultural links with Korea

Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán speaks during an interview at the Colombian Embassy in Jongno District, Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul.

Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán says “the city is transforming like never before.” Home to nearly 8 million people and accounting for roughly a quarter of Colombia’s economy, the capital sits at the heart of the nation’s growth and cultural life.

In an exclusive interview with The Korea Times during his four-day visit to Seoul, Galán underscored Bogota’s appeal as a vibrant capital with rising importance in Latin America, calling it an attractive destination for Korean investors and stressing the need for deeper ties with Korea.

“The city of Bogota has positioned itself as a strategic partner and a regional leader in
innovation and sustainability across Latin America,” Galán told The Korea Times. “We want to present the city as a hub for culture, tourism and business.”

That vision rests on the solid partnership Korea and Bogota already share.

According to the National Tax and Customs Directorate, imports from Korea to Bogota reached about $174 million in the first half of this year, a 33 percent increase from the same period of 2024. Korea ranked as the city’s 15th-largest source of imports, accounting for 1.2 percent of the total.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, right, meets with Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán at Seoul City Hall, Monday. Yonhap

With economic ties on the rise, Galán said Bogota’s skilled workforce makes the city increasingly attractive to Korean investors. He noted that half of Colombia’s bilingual population lives in the capital, and roughly 40 percent of the country’s Ph.D. holders are also based there. This talent pool, he added, is further bolstered by the city’s strategic location as a gateway to the Americas.

“Bogota is a hub. We have direct flights to almost every Latin American capital, and it takes only about five hours to reach New York and six to Los Angeles,” he said, highlighting the city’s strategic location.

Bogota is also home to El Dorado International Airport, the busiest in Latin America, which handled 45 million passengers last year and ranked first in the region for cargo traffic.

A worker loads packages of flowers onto a plane at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, Feb. 5. AFP-Yonhap

The mayor noted that these conditions make Bogota an attractive opportunity for Korean companies, offering access not only to the U.S. market but also to Colombia and the wider Latin American region, which continue to grow.

In Seoul, Galán met with the Korea International Trade Association and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency to discuss cooperation and learn about Korea’s startup projects and support systems for small businesses.

“We are building a campus for startups to promote the digital and technology ecosystem in Bogota, and what has happened here in Korea and Seoul in that sector is truly amazing,” he said.

The economy is one area where Galán hopes to deepen cooperation with Korea, but he also sees potential in culture. He noted that Bogota has become a prime destination for film and television production, with global streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon having produced programs there.

“Yesterday we met with Korean filmmakers and invited them to Colombia,” he said. “They will visit Bogota in November to see how the sector works, and we believe there is an opportunity to create content together with companies in the city that have experience producing films and series to high standards.”

After his visit to Korea, Galán said he hopes to draw on the experiences and lessons he has gained to further Bogota’s development.

“I'm very happy to be here for the first time. I think what has happened with Korea, and with Seoul in the last 40 or 50 years is something that many cities around the world see as an example.” Galán said. “We want to follow it, understand how it happened, and bring those lessons to our cities to change many things in terms of economic development and how a city organizes itself.”