[Walking Through Seoul] Seoul Can Surpass Paris and Tokyo

Acceleration of Digitalization and Globalization
New York and London Gain Strength, While Paris and Tokyo Fall Behind
Seoul Shows Strong Competitiveness as a Global City
Hallyu and K-pop Boost Its Popular Culture Appeal
Openness Is the Key Requirement for 21st-Century Cities
Improving Quality of Life for Citizens Is Essential

[Asia Economy] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the term "global city" was frequently heard. Various research institutions developed and published global city indices, and the media also showed interest by reporting on them regularly. Cities themselves responded sensitively. Those ranked high devised and implemented policies to maintain their positions, while those ranked lower sought to improve theirs. As many cities are eagerly regaining their pre-pandemic vitality, interest in cities and their futures is rising again. Global city rankings will soon become a hot topic once more.

It is difficult to define a global city with a single standard because rankings vary depending on the criteria. Generally, New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo come to mind first. Beyond that, it varies slightly by field. Culturally, Berlin, Vienna, and Rome are noted, while Milan is associated with fashion. In finance, Frankfurt, Singapore, and Hong Kong stand out. Regarding population diversity due to immigration, Los Angeles, Miami, and Toronto are examples.

London and Paris have been core cities since the formation of the nations of the United Kingdom and France. Tokyo grew into Japan's representative city due to a shift in ruling powers in the early 17th century, and New York rose as an economic center during the formation of the United States. The imperialism factor cannot be overlooked in these cities becoming global cities beyond national borders. During World War I in 1914, the territories of the United Kingdom and France spanned about 35% of the world, with populations exceeding approximately 28%. The United States had already secured the top GDP ranking, and Japan was rapidly growing. In other words, these cities emerged as early global cities thanks to being cities of countries with strong national power.

Consequently, changes in cities were closely linked to the rise and fall of nations. Decolonization following World War II led to a sharp decline in the territories and populations of the UK, France, and Japan, which significantly affected London, Paris, and Tokyo. At that time, New York was overwhelmingly number one.

As time passed, Europe and Japan gradually recovered from the war's aftermath, achieving economic growth and expanding a middle class with purchasing power. London, Paris, and Tokyo reemerged as competitors to New York. Conversely, New York's position weakened in the 1970s due to rising crime and declining population. As a result, in 1985, which marked the threshold for the spread of globalization based on neoliberalism, New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo were relatively balanced.

Seoul's Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung-gu symbolizes the global city of Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Time moved on, and with the acceleration of digitalization, increased immigration, and globalization of the economy in the 1990s, New York and London gained strength, while Paris and Tokyo, which responded late to these changes, weakened relatively. Notably, Tokyo's position weakened as its bubble economy burst and it entered a prolonged recession. Entering the 2000s, with the acceleration of digitalization and globalization, New York and London continued to gain strength, while Paris and Tokyo kept retreating. As a result, today the gap has widened so much that New York and London are often grouped together, and Paris and Tokyo are seen as another group.

So, which cities will take the places of Paris and Tokyo? While these two cities have faltered, leading cities have emerged in various fields. There was a time when Beijing and Shanghai, rising economic powers in China, had significant influence. However, strict pandemic responses, censorship, and repression of the IT industry have rapidly weakened their influence. Hong Kong, which maintained its status as a global city for a long time, is no different. Dubai and Singapore attract attention but cannot yet be considered competitors to Paris and Tokyo. Rather, S?o Paulo, Mexico City, and Istanbul, which are increasing their influence in terms of population and economic scale, seem more likely than Dubai and Singapore.

Where does Seoul stand? Or how will Seoul develop in the future? It is a question worth asking. If S?o Paulo and Istanbul have potential, Seoul can also be included in the list. Although Korea ranks behind Brazil, Mexico, and T?rkiye in terms of population and territory size, its economic, political, and social foundations are much stronger, so Seoul can be considered highly competitive. Moreover, as a core metropolitan city in a greater capital area, its population is similar to New York's, and its economic scale is comparable to London or Paris. Additionally, as Korea has entered the ranks of developed countries, Seoul has risen as one of the global cities in the economic sector, and recently, thanks to the popularity of Hallyu and K-pop, it has become famous as a global city in popular culture, which is also a competitive advantage.

Walking through Seoul in 2022, one can feel that this city is a comprehensive global city following New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo. It may not be easy to catch up immediately with the long-established Paris and Tokyo, but Seoul certainly has the strength to be a competitor. If efforts continue, there is even a possibility that Seoul could soon surpass Tokyo, with which it shares many similarities.

What does effort mean? National power remains an important condition for becoming a global city. If Korea becomes stronger, Seoul will follow suit. But that is not all. The most fundamental element a 21st-century city must have is openness. The dictionary defines openness as "a state or quality of being unreserved and receptive in attitude or thought." The reason New York and London continue to maintain their leading influence as global cities is precisely their openness to new things and change. Paris and Tokyo lagged somewhat in this regard, and that is where the gap widened.

Considering quality of life in cities, rankings like the "Global City Index" may seem like media games or political rhetoric, but they do help concretize urban policy goals and build social consensus. I would like to claim that Seoul has risen to 5th place in the global city rankings. To maintain this position or climb higher, it is clear that efforts to strengthen competitiveness must continue. However, not only for the sake of rankings but also to improve the quality of life for the city's residents, it is very important to maintain and further expand openness.

Robert Pauzer, Former Professor at Seoul National University