Busan Mayor Seeks Stronger Sweden Ties

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo met with Swedish Ambassador Karl-Olof Andersson on October 1st at City Hall to strengthen ties between Busan and Sweden. The two discussed expanding exchanges and cooperation in various sectors. Mayor Jeon highlighted the strong friendship between Korea and Sweden, which has endured for over 60 years since diplomatic relations were established in 1959. He expressed gratitude for Sweden's support during the Korean War, when it sent a medical team to Busan to aid soldiers and civilians.

In response, the Swedish ambassador welcomed the meeting and expressed hope for continued cooperation in the future. Mayor Jeon emphasized the importance of increasing global maritime cooperation, noting that Busan will host two major maritime conferences in 2027 and 2028. He invited Swedish officials to attend these events and share their expertise in maritime and port industries such as eco-friendly ships and smart logistics.

Mayor Jeon also pointed out that Busan and Sweden have both grown as cities based on their maritime resources. He expressed his desire to broaden cooperation by sharing each other's strengths in both maritime and industrial sectors. The mayor also mentioned the cultural exchange between the two countries, noting that the 15th Swedish Film Festival was held in Busan in September, featuring nine Swedish films at the Busan Cinema Center.

Mayor Jeon concluded the meeting, hoping that it would lead to more practical exchanges and cooperation between Busan and Sweden across various fields, and committing to active efforts to maintain and develop this cooperation.