VIDEO Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon: How Seoul became the world's top-performing global city

Video By

Lee Min-young, Kim Kang-min

Over the past several decades, Seoul has risen remarkably as one of the world's most powerful cities. Manifested by its robust drive with which is forges ahead towards a future of advanced technology, the city is paying no less attention to its people and their quality of life.

And with the increasing number of foreigners flowing into the city, Seoul is ever mindful of its foreign residents. “Seoul is becoming a global city. More than 420,000 foreigners live in Seoul and the number is increasing,” Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said in an interview with The Korea Times at his office, Nov. 27.

He says his goal is not to assimilate them into the Korean society but to respect their way of life, their culture so that they could be part of the community without losing their identity.

Seoul not only strives to improve the lives of its citizens, but as Seoul itself is also a rare case of a chaotic megalopolis-turned-“smart” megacity, it sets a great example for developing countries all around the world, educating and introducing them to Seoul's business, technology and transport infrastructure.

Recently, sustainable development has also become one of Seoul's pillars of success, adopted in response to the growing demand of energy preservation and tackling urban pollution.