Wanted: Seoul Honorary Citizenship for foreigners

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, left, congratulates Pierre Ory during the 2017 Seoul Honorary Citizenship Ceremony at Seoul Metropolitan Government. Seoul Metropolitan Government

By Ko Dong-hwan

Seoul is searching for foreign citizens who have made an outstanding public contribution so the city can acknowledge their work with Seoul Honorary Citizenship.

Anyone with suggestions should recommend the person to the International Relations Division under the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Planning and Administration Office from Monday until July 27.

Candidates must have lived in the city for three consecutive years or five combined years. Foreigners who “contributed to the city from inside or outside in terms of public recognition improvement, boosting culture and welfare, and economic development” are also qualified for the honor, which is awarded annually.

Candidates must be recommended by a person of the highest authority within a public or civic entity or by a group of at least 30 Seoul residents.

The honorary citizenship offers a chance to participate in the city administration, such as becoming a member of an advisory committee for Seoul policies or being invited to city events.

There is also free admission to public facilities run by the city, including Seoul Grand Park and Dongdaemun Digital Plaza (DDP), and a discount at Lotte World.

After evaluations and city council approval, the selected foreigners will be introduced to the public at a ceremony in November.

As of July 1 since 1958, 797 people from 94 countries have received the honorary citizenship. Of these, 197 were Americans, followed by Japan (45), Germany (44), China (42) and England (30).

In 2017, Pierre Ory, a French school teacher in Seoul, received the award for co-authoring a “Micheline Green Guide” article about the city's tourism spots and cultural heritage sites.

Kilaparti Ramakrishna, former head of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's North-Eastern Asia Office, received the honor for her role in establishing a UN Human Rights Office in Seoul.

Etihad Airways executive Humaid Alhammadi was recognized for supporting an Emirates-Korea tie. Eighteen others also received the honor last year.

Officials who had received the honor include International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach for helping PyeongChang Olympics host joint sports teams from the two Koreas. Others include Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Belgium Princess Josephine-Charlotte, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, and former Sao Paolo Mayor Joao Doria.