{
  "id": 12565372,
  "title": "Seoul taps foreign honorary citizens as tech ambassadors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/seoul-taps-foreign-honorary-citizens-as-tech-ambassadors",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T06:42:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/people-events/20261007/seoul-taps-foreign-honorary-citizens-as-tech-ambassadors"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul's city officials are seeking to transform foreign honorary citizens into active ambassadors for technology and policy, according to recent reports. The Seoul Metropolitan Government hosted its third Honorary Citizen Networking Day of the year, which coincided with Smart Life Week 2026, the city's premier technology summit. The event was attended by 20 foreign honorary citizens and local officials, all gathered at Coex in southern Seoul. The summit, which featured interactive exhibits on artificial intelligence and civic technology, aimed to provide these long-time foreign residents with a glimpse of Seoul's digital vision while also gathering their insights to improve municipal policies.",
  "summary": "Major cities have long handed key-to-the-city honors to foreign dignitaries and prominent expats, often viewing the gesture as little more than a ceremonial nod to civic goodwill. But in Seoul, city officials are increasingly eager to turn these international residents into an active network of brand ambassadors and policy advisors. The Seoul Metropolitan Government hosted its third Honorary…",
  "key_points": [
    "Seoul seeks to turn foreign honorary citizens into tech ambassadors.",
    "Third Honorary Citizen Networking Day held during Smart Life Week 2026.",
    "Summit featured AI and civic tech exhibits to gather insights."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Seoul's outreach to foreign honorary citizens as tech ambassadors signals a shift towards leveraging long-time residents' insights to inform and enhance the city's municipal policies and digital vision.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Seoul taps foreign honorary citizens as tech ambassadors",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/seoul-taps-foreign-honorary-citizens-as-tech-ambassadors-12568769",
        "published": "2026-10-07T07:02:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}