The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal'

  • 3

    Seoul on alert over Pyongyang's imminent spy satellite launch

  • 5

    Seoul city erroneously sends emergency alert after NK launch

  • 7

    Memorial Day 2023

  • 9

    Brave Girls to restart activities under new name

  • 11

    Purported N. Korean 'space launch vehicle' falls into Yellow Sea after 'abnormal' flight: S. Korean military

  • 13

    ANALYSISChina's ban on Micron tests Washington-Seoul alliance

  • 15

    Korea's diplomacy put to test amid signs of thaw in US-China relations

  • 17

    Local governments appeal to young generations through YouTube

  • 19

    'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes

  • 2

    Hybe's new boy group Boynextdoor aims to be 'one and only' presence in K-pop

  • 4

    ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood'

  • 6

    Korea's household debt-to-GDP ratio highest among 34 major economies

  • 8

    Korea eyes launch of 4th Nuri space rocket in 2025

  • 10

    Vietnam emerges as major market for Korean chipmakers

  • 12

    Japanese destroyer flies controversial flag as it arrives in Korea for joint drill

  • 14

    Rapper Mino attends sister's wedding in U.S. amid military service

  • 16

    Top 20% of income earners fuel increase in Q1 consumption as pandemic ends

  • 18

    Korea to ease immigration rules to attract more medical tourists

  • 20

    Actors' off-screen chemistry enthralls fans

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
Wed, May 31, 2023 | 12:23
Manufacturing
Mayor promises foreign business-friendly environment
Posted : 2010-09-13 16:44
Updated : 2010-09-13 16:44
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Seoul’s image as a tourism and investment hub may have improved significantly in recent years, but Mayor Oh Se-hoon is not content to let the city rest on its laurels.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Seoul’s image as a tourism and investment hub may have improved significantly in recent years, but Mayor Oh Se-hoon is not content to let the city rest on its laurels.

During a luncheon with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK) Monday, Oh said the city will continue to implement projects that will help achieve his goal of making Seoul rank the world’s fifth most competitive city.

``We are not complacent. We want to make Seoul more favorable for investors, tourists and expatriates so that the best quality of life can be offered to foreigners, so that they will choose Seoul instead of Shanghai or Tokyo. We will redouble our efforts to make Seoul the fifth most competitive city in the world,’’ he said.

Seoul ranked 27th in the 2006 ranking of the world’s most competitive cities and currently ranks ninth in the latest 2010 survey.

Oh, who is now serving his second term as mayor, said the city is focusing on six growth areas for Seoul: design, fashion, tourism, digital content, conventions, and business research & development.

Under his leadership, he said there have been significant improvements in transforming Seoul into a global city. ``To make the city as one that is loved by the world, this is closely related to its competitiveness,’’ Oh said.

The government has heavily invested in tourism infrastructure and implemented reforms to make it more attractive as a tourism destination.

Oh cited the reduction in hotel room prices from an average of $567 a night in 2006 to $332 a night in 2009, as well as the introduction of international taxis with a translation service and English street signs.

Seoul also stepped up its brand marketing activities to boost awareness around the world, with a series of TV commercials featuring honorary ambassador and ice-skating star Kim Yu-na.

``Seoul’s attractiveness as a tourism destination improved, recording an increase in visitors despite the worldwide economic downturn,’’ Oh said.

To promote the city as a business hub, Oh said four areas, Sangam Digital Media City, Magok, Yongsan International Business District and Yeouido International Finance Center, are being developed.

Digital Media City has been described as the world’s first digital content media complex and is expected to be completed by 2015. Magok district is known as an eco-friendly, h-tech industrial complex, while Yeouido is being billed as the future financial district hub for Northeast Asia.

Despite delays in the $28 billion Yongsan International Business District development project, Oh remained confident it will push through, though it won’t be completed until around 2017 or 2018.

The Korean government provides various incentives to foreign investors and guarantees remittance of profits. Foreign-invested companies, whose businesses enhance the competitiveness of Korean industries, will be able to receive tax reductions. There are also foreign investment zones which offer tax and duty free exemptions for certain businesses.

According to Oh, the metropolitan government has also made life easier for foreigners living in the city, with the establishment of the Seoul Global Center, Seoul Global Village and Seoul Global Business Center.

The Seoul Global Center is a one-stop center for expatriates who need assistance in various aspects of their life in Seoul, such as banking, tax, legal counseling and mobile phones. The global business center assists foreign entrepreneurs and businessmen with setting up a company in the city.

There are more international schools and medical centers in Seoul that cater to foreigners. English-language services are also being provided through the 120 Dasan call center hotline (dial 120+9 for English), and the 1399 medical interpretation hotline.

All these efforts have been successful, according to Oh, who cited a 2009 survey conducted by the Seoul government, showing the steady increase in satisfaction of foreigners living and doing business in the city compared to previous years.

Seoul has been designated as the World Design Capital 2010 and recently, as a UNESCO City of Design, in recognition of its cultural heritage and creative potential.

``This has added further momentum to establish Seoul as a city of creativity and design... We will earmark a special budget for these activities to elevate Seoul’s brand image as a design city. We want to nurture design as a lifestyle,’’ Oh said.
Emailcathy@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Korea to ease immigration rules to attract more medical tourists Korea to ease immigration rules to attract more medical tourists
2Big businesses face growing union pressure to extend retirement age Big businesses face growing union pressure to extend retirement age
3Running convenience stores becomes popular among people in 20s, 30s Running convenience stores becomes popular among people in 20s, 30s
4Anti-corruption watchdog set to investigate crypto assets of lawmakers Anti-corruption watchdog set to investigate crypto assets of lawmakers
5Naver suffers shrinking online search market share Naver suffers shrinking online search market share
6Sluggish exports behind weak Korean won Sluggish exports behind weak Korean won
7Seoul resident clashes with authorities for raising dogs to nab 'North Korean spies' Seoul resident clashes with authorities for raising dogs to nab 'North Korean spies'
8Pyongyang may have delayed spy satellite launch due to technical issues Pyongyang may have delayed spy satellite launch due to technical issues
9Doctors, pharmacists to receive 30% bonus for offering telemedicine service Doctors, pharmacists to receive 30% bonus for offering telemedicine service
10HanmiGlobal to monitor building of 80,000 houses for Neom construction workers HanmiGlobal to monitor building of 80,000 houses for Neom construction workers
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema 'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema
2SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal' SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal'
3ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood' ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood'
4'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes
5[INTERVIEW] Long-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward INTERVIEWLong-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group