Foreign envoys discover Sejong's appeal beyond Korea's administrative capital

Sejong, Korea’s administrative capital located roughly 130 kilometers south of Seoul, presents a unique urban experience for those used to Seoul’s bustling streets. Known for its cyclists commuting along streams, and the giant rooftop garden atop Government Complex Sejong, this city is set apart from its neighbor by the absence of utility poles and curbside parking along its wide boulevards.

Established in 2012 as Korea’s administrative city, Sejong has evolved into a community of roughly 400,000 residents, primarily comprising civil servants and their families who relocated from Seoul when ministries were transferred south. On September 29 and 30, 13 officials from 12 foreign missions in Korea embarked on a two-day tour of Sejong, organized by the Sejong Culture and Tourism Foundation, to showcase the planned city’s tourism attractions to a foreign audience.

Kenyan Ambassador Emmy Kipsoi, among the participants, expressed that the visit surpassed her expectations of Sejong as merely a functional government hub. "Before the visit, I knew Sejong mainly as Korea’s administrative capital, the home of government ministries and a city primarily for work," she said.