Seoul mayor highlights city’s resilience to diplomatic community

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, entrance row eighth from proper, poses with international ambassadors and embassy officers in the course of the New 12 months Reception for Ambassadors held in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Authorities

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon hosted a gathering of over 80 diplomats, together with ambassadors and embassy employees, Monday, to spotlight the capital metropolis’s security and resilience amid the present political turmoil.

The occasion aimed to reassure international residents and representatives of town’s stability and showcase its vibrancy. Among the many attendees had been 32 ambassadors from nations together with the United Arab Emirates, Britain and Singapore, alongside representatives from 64 embassies.

“Seoul has frequently superior regardless of quite a few challenges, reaching world recognition reminiscent of rating sixth in city competitiveness and first in complete public sector integrity assessments,” Oh stated. “This 12 months, we goal to raise Seoul into an much more dynamic and vibrant metropolis.”

Oh harassed the resilience of Seoul’s residents, noting their orderly response to societal challenges.

“Amid the present turbulence, I’ve witnessed seeds of hope in our residents’ resilience. Based mostly on this mature civic consciousness, Seoul will proceed to progress. Please trust and excessive expectations for our metropolis’s potential,” he stated.

The mayor additionally previewed a number of worldwide occasions deliberate for Seoul in 2025, expressing his dedication to restoring town to its full vitality.

“We’ll make sure that all international guests to Seoul expertise town’s distinctive charms and dynamism to the fullest,” he stated.

Eric Teo, Singapore’s ambassador to Korea, expressed gratitude for the initiative, noting the significance of communication throughout occasions of uncertainty.

“Amid political and social turbulence, Mayor Oh’s proactive engagement with the diplomatic neighborhood is enormously appreciated. I stay up for seeing Korea and its cities flip challenges into alternatives for additional growth,” Teo stated.

“The messages from Mayor Oh, different Seoul officers and representatives from the enterprise neighborhood had been crammed with frequent themes of hope and resilience,” Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega stated.

“The town capped a 12 months of achievements and we within the worldwide neighborhood stay up for continued collaboration with Seoul in constructing cities which can be sustainable, environment friendly, human-centered, inclusive and progressive.”

The ambassador particularly welcomed Oh’s invitation for nearer collaboration between Seoul and the worldwide neighborhood, emphasizing the significance of collective efforts to form cities that prioritize well-being and sustainable growth.

Kazakh Ambassador to Korea Nurgali Arystanov additionally expressed gratitude to Oh for creating an surroundings conducive to the work of international diplomatic missions.

“Seoul has made vital strides in creating snug dwelling circumstances for international missions,” Arystanov stated.

He praised town’s dedication to fostering dialogue by occasions like Seoul Sensible Life Week, which connects Seoul’s officers with embassies and worldwide organizations. The ambassador additionally prolonged an invite for Oh to revisit Kazakhstan, highlighting the rising ties and connectivity between the 2 nations.

Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar additionally acknowledged Oh’s imaginative and prescient for Seoul as a International Prime 5 Metropolis. Specializing in sectors like synthetic intelligence, biotechnology, robotics and artistic industries, Seoul’s initiatives emphasize eco-friendly and people-centered insurance policies.

Kumar expressed enthusiasm about potential collaboration between India and Seoul in these cutting-edge sectors and voiced hope for Oh to go to India within the close to future.