4 Nights and 6 Days in Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur
Sharing Best Practices in Waterfront Development and Smart Cities
Signing MOU to Support Korean Companies’ Entry into Local Markets
Site Visits to Rainwater Storage Tunnel and Riverside Development Projects
Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon will embark on an official trip to Vietnam and Malaysia. He plans to share the city’s expertise in waterfront development and smart city initiatives at the Hanoi Policy Sharing Forum, and attend events related to Seoul’s beauty and lifestyle sectors to engage with local residents.
On December 4, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that Mayor Oh will visit Vietnam and Malaysia on a six-day, four-night itinerary. In Hanoi, Mayor Oh will meet with the Chairman of the People’s Committee, participate in the policy sharing forum, and deliver a special lecture at Hanoi University, showcasing Seoul’s exemplary policies. On December 6, he will travel to Kuala Lumpur to attend a tourism promotion event aimed at revitalizing Seoul tourism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will also meet with the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur.
On December 5, Mayor Oh will participate in the “2025 Seoul-Hanoi Urban Policy Sharing Forum,” where he will present Seoul’s waterfront innovation and smart city policies, exemplified by the “Hangang Renaissance.” As Hanoi is preparing for the development of the Red River and a transition to a digital administrative model, there is significant local interest in Seoul’s policies. In the afternoon, Mayor Oh will meet with the newly appointed Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee to discuss inter-city cooperation initiatives and specific exchange plans, focusing on the policies shared at the forum.
Later that day, he will hold a roundtable with Korean companies operating in Hanoi to hear proposals on local industrial trends, expanding business exchanges, and building networks. He will also visit the “Seoul Beauty & Promotion Experience Center” to meet with Vietnamese consumers. Mayor Oh will personally experience advanced beauty tech solutions and promote Seoul’s beauty brands. Additionally, a financial business agreement will be signed between the Seoul Business Agency (SBA) and Vincom Retail, Vietnam’s largest distribution company, to support the entry of Seoul-based K-beauty companies into the Vietnamese market.
Mayor Oh will also meet with Vietnamese university students who have a keen interest in Seoul. He will attend a “Talent Recruitment Seminar” introducing Seoul’s outstanding policies and study abroad programs, delivering a special lecture to around 400 students at Hanoi University and answering their questions directly. Korea University, Seoul National University, and the University of Seoul will also participate, providing information about their institutions and consultations on studying in Korea.
After moving to Malaysia, Mayor Oh’s first official engagement on December 6 will be a visit to the “River of Life” waterfront development site in Kuala Lumpur. The River of Life project restored the waterfronts of the Klang and Gombak rivers, ensuring flood control and successfully revitalizing waterfront culture and tourism. It is often cited as a case similar to Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon Restoration.
On December 7, Mayor Oh will meet with AGIKO, the Malaysian alumni association of Korean universities. AGIKO is a nonprofit organization founded by Malaysian graduates who studied in Korea and are now active in Malaysian government, business, and academia. Mayor Oh will explore opportunities for ongoing exchange and cooperation with AGIKO and express gratitude to the alumni association for serving as informal ambassadors for Korea over the past 20 years.
He will also visit “Seoul My Soul in Kuala Lumpur,” held at Fahrenheit88 in central Kuala Lumpur, to promote Seoul tourism. Mayor Oh will light up the “Seoul Goods Christmas Tree,” participate in a Seoul tourism prize draw, and interact with local Hallyu fans. The event, themed “Seouliday”-a blend of “Seoul” and “Holiday”-is designed to let visitors experience a special holiday in the style of Seoul residents.
With the increasing risk of heavy rainfall due to rapid climate change, Mayor Oh will visit the “SMART Tunnel” to review how the deep drainage tunnel is utilized. The SMART Tunnel was constructed to prevent flooding from the Klang River and alleviate chronic traffic congestion in downtown Kuala Lumpur. It serves as a road to ease traffic under normal conditions, and as a combined tunnel to store rainwater and restrict vehicle access during heavy storms.
In addition, Mayor Oh will visit sites related to Seoul’s ongoing “Urban Architecture Design Innovation” and “Garden City Seoul” policies. He will tour Merdeka 118, the world’s second tallest mixed-use building, Perdana Botanical Garden, and Putrajaya, Malaysia’s administrative capital and an intelligent garden city, before returning to Korea.
A city official stated, “With the rapid spread of interest in K-culture and cultural consumption across Southeast Asia, this trip will reinforce Seoul’s global city brand and serve as a bridgehead for Seoul companies to enter these markets. We aim to use this opportunity to strengthen exchange and cooperation with the capitals of both countries through strategic partnerships.”
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