Oh Se-hoon discusses strategies to attract overseas financial firms to Seoul at the 'Foreign Investor Advisory Council'... also participates in 'Seoul Run Mentoring'

Listening to Diverse Opinions of Foreign Investment Advisory Committee Members... Seoul City to Launch Full-Scale Global Company Attraction Campaign from Next Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will attend the 52nd regular meeting of the Foreign Investor Advisory Council (FIAC) held at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu on the afternoon of the 12th.

This meeting is an opportunity to hear various opinions and advice from foreign investor advisory members regarding Seoul’s full-scale efforts to attract foreign investment and overseas financial companies in order to leap into the ‘Global TOP5 Financial Cities.’

Seoul plans to actively compete to attract global financial institutions and companies starting next year as a core strategy to strengthen global urban competitiveness presented in Seoul Vision 2030. In particular, Seoul aims to establish the ‘Seoul Investment Agency,’ a dedicated investment attraction organization, as a funded institution in 2024. To kick off this plan, the city will first strengthen the functions and roles of the SBA’s ‘Invest Seoul Center’ next year. Companies attracted through the Seoul Investment Agency will be provided with one-stop services ranging from office space to corporate consulting, language, and living support. The city also plans to promote the designation of Yeouido as a financial special zone and boldly increase city-level incentives for foreign-invested companies.

The Foreign Investor Advisory Council is an advisory body established by Seoul in 1999 to improve the foreign investment environment and revitalize investment attraction. It consists of 23 experts from various fields, including presidents of foreign chambers of commerce in Korea, CEOs of global companies in finance, manufacturing, logistics, lawyers, and others. The council holds two regular meetings annually to advise on Seoul’s foreign investment policies, serves as a bridge connecting the foreign business community and Seoul, and acts as a promotional ambassador to enhance Seoul’s image as an investment destination.

Mayor Oh will also hold an on-site meeting for ‘Seoul Run Mentoring’ at the Link1 Hall of the Seoul Youth Media Center with mentors, mentees, and parents participating in the program. They will have a free discussion focused on ‘Seoul Run Mentoring’ and observe the actual online mentoring process to review the learning progress.

‘Seoul Run’ is a Seoul-type online education platform aimed at restoring the broken educational ladder and eliminating educational disparities between social classes. It is a key pledge of Mayor Oh Se-hoon. The service started on August 27 and plans to gradually expand its target audience to complete it as a lifelong education platform for all citizens by 2023.

Along with the launch of ‘Seoul Run,’ the city operates ‘Seoul Run Mentoring’ to fill the gaps in learning that cannot be covered by online lectures alone and to foster self-directed learning abilities. University and graduate student mentors manage the learning progress and provide career counseling to students (mentees) online. The city has recruited 539 university and graduate student mentors, and students (mentees) can apply for mentoring at any time.

Meanwhile, Mayor Oh will attend the inauguration and retirement ceremony of the Seoul Metropolitan Chapter of the Korea Senior Citizens Association held at the Lunamiele Convention Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu on the morning of the same day. He will deliver congratulatory remarks to the newly inaugurated 19th president, Ko Gwang-seon, and express gratitude to the outgoing 18th president, Kim Seong-han, for his dedicated service.