.
Seoul is sly, strategic even, and any chip it had on its shoulder about acquiescing the global spotlight to Tokyo and Beijing is so last fall. In November 2010, as the world’s economy went from bad to worse, Seoul netted the attention of heads of states and the rest of the world during the G20 Summit. The financial recovery agenda, among other economic precautionary measures, was untangled over two days in the 10-million-strong capital of South Korea—not China or Japan.

Although the Summit lasted less than 48 hours, the agenda of last November stretched over the year, and was revisited this November during the G20 Summit in Cannes, France. Leaders and the public, this time, looked to Seoul from the French Riviera to assess the progress made from the 20 top economic powers in the world.

Rebalancing the world’s economic structure, of course, is not the responsibility of the transnational summit’s host country; however, Seoul as a meeting place of global financial stakeholders is symbolic of its increasing place as a megacity contender. This year, the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) ranked Seoul the number one city most likely to become more significant in the next few years, which may not come as a surprise to the nearly 25 percent of the country’s population who live there.

In the capital, which is made up of more than 522 neighborhoods, the pulse of economic growth is fueled by dynamism in the political and cultural spheres, and by a physical aesthetic of efficiency and innovation unmatched by prominent Asian powerhouses. In 2010, the International Council of Societies and Industrial Design named Seoul the World Design Capital.

It’s the intricacies — from a highly developed transportation infrastructure, which first gained relevancy in its inception during the Korean Empire, to the Incheon International Airport, ranked the best in the world by Airports Council International — that solidify Seoul’s rise as a modern mecca. Here, people move freely within and beyond its borders.

Seoul was ranked 28 out of the 100 top world cities for an innovation economy in 2011 by the Innovation Cities Program, in a study conducted by the 2thinknow Innovation Cities™ Program, based in Melbourne Australia.

Financial stability and growth (Seoul was ranked the forth best banking industry out of 10 by GFCI in 2011) linked to thriving technological home base to conglomerates such as Samsung and LG, contribute to Seoul’s competitive prowess.

Seoul came in fifth place out of 10 for general competitiveness by GFCI, and beat out usual megacities such as Shanghai, Tokyo, and Chicago, and was just below Singapore, Hong Kong, and New York. It’s also listed as the number two city where offices will likely expand, and the number five leading Asian center out of 10. Expansion, in addition to offering a mode of increased financial growth, also means Seoul will have more physical space and economic feasibility to function as a hotspot for world forums, such as cultural and energy platforms, to convene.

In 1998, Seoul hosted the 24th Olympic Games and the World Cup Soccer Tournament in 2002. These sporting events, which often simultaneously symbolize global recreational competition and international unity, have included Seoul as a central location for sporting events for over a decade. In 2018, the city will host the Winter Olympics.

Looking ahead, Seoul has positioned itself as a key player in the Asian market and broader global stage. In March 2012, the city will host the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), scheduled to take place on the 26th and 27th. This meeting, which will be the first summit level conference on nuclear security in the country, is of the highest political impetus, and rallies particular attention to Seoul, and its subsequent policies, as the hosting city. The meeting will address the perception of nuclear terrorism threats among leaders, and seek to discuss non-proliferation successes and failures and the strength of political will and commitment to combatting nuclear issues.

In Seoul, officials will review the progress made so far during the first meeting after Osama bin Laden’s death, and reiterate what was accomplished since the Washington Summit, which took place in April 2010. Mainly, however, the agenda in South Korea will be to move from political declaration and ideological talk, to a practical vision for moving forward. The March Summit will also address the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, as a continuous issue on the radar of Asia at large, and hone its focus to the security umbrella first, with a complementary interest in safety.

Progress in medical advancements, additionally, is on the city’s action list for the immediate future. In 2014, the International Society of Internal Medicine (ISIM) will host the biennial World Congress in Seoul, which was selected in 2008 in Buenos Aires during a bidding process backed by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Seoul Convention Bureau.

As the winner of the 2014 ISIM bid, Seoul will have the medical community’s brainpower and attention, as it did with major economic players during the G20. Additionally in August 2014, the city will host the International Congress of Mathematics (ICM), the largest congress in the field, and the most prestigious academic mathematic meeting held every four years under the sponsorship of the International Mathematical Union (IMU).

With a relatively short history of mathematical research, Seoul has made significant progress in little time; a consistent theme for the rising star of global cities.

In June this year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government formally announced its IT blueprint called the “Smart Seoul 2015,” which outlines the plan to become a smarter city through IT advancements, such as free wireless internet, and other technology programs in government administration, health and welfare, industry and living.

People living in Seoul will be more connected to each other and to the outside world, and in as little as four years. The 2010 G20 Summit, as the most prominent economic forum for heads of states, set the framework for future meetings in science and technology, mathematics, and security threats to thrive under the aegis of the world’s stage, and the leaders who can make their counterparts take note.

These leaders, in turn, will likely notice the graceful brilliancy of the city; how residents have viewed Seoul all along.

Photo by Trey Ratcliff.

The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.

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www.diplomaticourier.com

The Heart of Seoul

January 13, 2012

Seoul is sly, strategic even, and any chip it had on its shoulder about acquiescing the global spotlight to Tokyo and Beijing is so last fall. In November 2010, as the world’s economy went from bad to worse, Seoul netted the attention of heads of states and the rest of the world during the G20 Summit. The financial recovery agenda, among other economic precautionary measures, was untangled over two days in the 10-million-strong capital of South Korea—not China or Japan.

Although the Summit lasted less than 48 hours, the agenda of last November stretched over the year, and was revisited this November during the G20 Summit in Cannes, France. Leaders and the public, this time, looked to Seoul from the French Riviera to assess the progress made from the 20 top economic powers in the world.

Rebalancing the world’s economic structure, of course, is not the responsibility of the transnational summit’s host country; however, Seoul as a meeting place of global financial stakeholders is symbolic of its increasing place as a megacity contender. This year, the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) ranked Seoul the number one city most likely to become more significant in the next few years, which may not come as a surprise to the nearly 25 percent of the country’s population who live there.

In the capital, which is made up of more than 522 neighborhoods, the pulse of economic growth is fueled by dynamism in the political and cultural spheres, and by a physical aesthetic of efficiency and innovation unmatched by prominent Asian powerhouses. In 2010, the International Council of Societies and Industrial Design named Seoul the World Design Capital.

It’s the intricacies — from a highly developed transportation infrastructure, which first gained relevancy in its inception during the Korean Empire, to the Incheon International Airport, ranked the best in the world by Airports Council International — that solidify Seoul’s rise as a modern mecca. Here, people move freely within and beyond its borders.

Seoul was ranked 28 out of the 100 top world cities for an innovation economy in 2011 by the Innovation Cities Program, in a study conducted by the 2thinknow Innovation Cities™ Program, based in Melbourne Australia.

Financial stability and growth (Seoul was ranked the forth best banking industry out of 10 by GFCI in 2011) linked to thriving technological home base to conglomerates such as Samsung and LG, contribute to Seoul’s competitive prowess.

Seoul came in fifth place out of 10 for general competitiveness by GFCI, and beat out usual megacities such as Shanghai, Tokyo, and Chicago, and was just below Singapore, Hong Kong, and New York. It’s also listed as the number two city where offices will likely expand, and the number five leading Asian center out of 10. Expansion, in addition to offering a mode of increased financial growth, also means Seoul will have more physical space and economic feasibility to function as a hotspot for world forums, such as cultural and energy platforms, to convene.

In 1998, Seoul hosted the 24th Olympic Games and the World Cup Soccer Tournament in 2002. These sporting events, which often simultaneously symbolize global recreational competition and international unity, have included Seoul as a central location for sporting events for over a decade. In 2018, the city will host the Winter Olympics.

Looking ahead, Seoul has positioned itself as a key player in the Asian market and broader global stage. In March 2012, the city will host the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), scheduled to take place on the 26th and 27th. This meeting, which will be the first summit level conference on nuclear security in the country, is of the highest political impetus, and rallies particular attention to Seoul, and its subsequent policies, as the hosting city. The meeting will address the perception of nuclear terrorism threats among leaders, and seek to discuss non-proliferation successes and failures and the strength of political will and commitment to combatting nuclear issues.

In Seoul, officials will review the progress made so far during the first meeting after Osama bin Laden’s death, and reiterate what was accomplished since the Washington Summit, which took place in April 2010. Mainly, however, the agenda in South Korea will be to move from political declaration and ideological talk, to a practical vision for moving forward. The March Summit will also address the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, as a continuous issue on the radar of Asia at large, and hone its focus to the security umbrella first, with a complementary interest in safety.

Progress in medical advancements, additionally, is on the city’s action list for the immediate future. In 2014, the International Society of Internal Medicine (ISIM) will host the biennial World Congress in Seoul, which was selected in 2008 in Buenos Aires during a bidding process backed by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Seoul Convention Bureau.

As the winner of the 2014 ISIM bid, Seoul will have the medical community’s brainpower and attention, as it did with major economic players during the G20. Additionally in August 2014, the city will host the International Congress of Mathematics (ICM), the largest congress in the field, and the most prestigious academic mathematic meeting held every four years under the sponsorship of the International Mathematical Union (IMU).

With a relatively short history of mathematical research, Seoul has made significant progress in little time; a consistent theme for the rising star of global cities.

In June this year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government formally announced its IT blueprint called the “Smart Seoul 2015,” which outlines the plan to become a smarter city through IT advancements, such as free wireless internet, and other technology programs in government administration, health and welfare, industry and living.

People living in Seoul will be more connected to each other and to the outside world, and in as little as four years. The 2010 G20 Summit, as the most prominent economic forum for heads of states, set the framework for future meetings in science and technology, mathematics, and security threats to thrive under the aegis of the world’s stage, and the leaders who can make their counterparts take note.

These leaders, in turn, will likely notice the graceful brilliancy of the city; how residents have viewed Seoul all along.

Photo by Trey Ratcliff.

The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.