 Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, second from left, watches as an official from the Seoul Global Center helps foreign nationals with administrative issues during the opening event of the center on Jan. 23. The center was launched to help foreign residents and tourists in Seoul as part of schemes to develop the capital into an international city. |
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
President-elect Lee Myung-bak will seek to develop Seoul as an international city upon his inauguration.
Lee's vision for the capital originates from his strong attachment to the city as its former mayor who produced tangible outcomes during his term including the restoration of the Cheonggye Stream, the introduction of bus-only lanes and the designation of ``New Towns.''
Before he was elected, he often emphasized that Seoul should be reshaped as a new metropolis with global features.
``Because global and highly regarded cities act as a catalyst for rebirth, I know that the rebirth of Seoul will lead to the rebirth of Korea as a whole, and ultimately contribute to the revitalization of the region,'' Lee said during a speech at Tokyo University in November 2006.
As the new head of state, his strong commitment seems unchanged.
In his first official meeting with mayors and governors of 16 major cities and provinces, Lee also vowed to offer every possible means of support.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon asked Lee to deregulate visa policies to attract more tourists and to ensure there were no major price hikes in the tourism sector.
Basic Steps
As mayor of Seoul, Lee's motto was ``Act in Seoul with a global vision!'' as he vowed to recreate Seoul into a city of global repute.
He often emphasized that the diversity of culture and creativity in the city can lead citizens to achieve improvements in the quality of life and cultural advancement, a key source of the city's competitive edge.
To elevate the city's position as a global metropolis, he suggested a shift from a quantity based strategy of city expansion to a quality centered concern for the improvement of the welfare of citizens and the quality of their lives.
``A world city should be connected to a global network with a highly developed infrastructure. But big scale and a nice face is not enough, as leadership in cultural developments and human contents must not be ignored,'' he said.
To realize the goal, he proposed three basic themes ― the most convenient Seoul; the warmest and friendliest Seoul; and the most progressive Seoul.
Lee called for major changes in city administration, the environment, transportation and traffic for the most convenient Seoul and also suggested the city offer housing and municipal services in a hospitable and kind manner to create warm and friendly Seoul.
He also set eyes on Seoul as a progressive and energetic city so that people were not constrained from civic and community participation.
Strategic Policies
Lee also set three strategic policies to upgrade Seoul as a global city ― having a business mindset; having a people-centered city; and having a system that promoted sustainable development in all areas.
From the experiences as a former CEO of Hyundai Construction and Engineering, he emphasized the importance of efficiency in the city management with a business mentality.
He demanded that public servants in the Seoul government be equipped with a business mindset, breaking away from traditional job descriptions.
In public services, Lee also sought policies that center on citizens, which should not be neglected in the name of efficiency.
One of the most fundamental problems of modern cities such as Seoul is that, due to its functional complexities and huge scales, people living in such big cities often feel alienated, he said.
``Those problems are becoming more and more aggravated as cities show growing tendency to put too much emphasis on their competitiveness, taking efficiency as their highest priority,'' he said.
In terms of the sustainable development of the city, he put a great emphasis on environmental aspects as well as economic issues.
``Of course, a city should be developed and no one can deny that. What is more important, however, is that it should be done in an environment-friendly way, protecting our cultural heritages,'' he said.
He said in implementing city policies, the environment was the highest priority. ``The environment-friendly policy will eventually pay off, benefiting the 10 million Seoulites and make Seoul a business-friendly destination, attracting many foreign investors.''
e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr
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