Seoul-ful Setting Drives Fruitful ASEAN-ROK Transport Forum Talks

Seoul recently had the opportunity to promote its advanced transportation infrastructure and services to Southeast Asian leaders as part of the efforts to export its technology and systems to ASEAN nations during the 5th ASEAN-ROK Transport Cooperation Forum, held from June 17-20. Organised by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), the annual forum gives Korean enterprises an inroad into ASEAN member-country transport markets while also helping to strengthen Korea-ASEAN ties.

Taking place at the Shilla Hotel Seoul, 31 prominent government officials from Southeast Asia met with their Korean counterparts, who together discussed rail policy, reviewed rail technology trends, and looked at the future of ASEAN-Korea relations. Forum presentations, along with an official dinner on June 18th, were held at Yeong Bin Gwan, a popular twostory banquet hall facility at the Shilla bearing the design of a traditional Korean house. Participating Korean executives also engaged in separate business meetings with ASEAN officials to advocate their companies’ potential in ASEAN nations.

For overseas attendees, the visit also included the opportunity to discover Korea’s modern and multifaceted transport system through a site inspection of several KTX train maintenance and control centres at the high-speed rail service’s Haengsin Metropolitan Rolling Stock Depot, north of the capital. This was followed by a Seoul City Tour, beginning with a full-course Korean meal at Saekdong Jeogori, a restaurant near Seoul’s World Cup Stadium.

Afterwards, delegates were given an expert-guided tour in English of the Korean Furniture Museum and took in a performance of Miso: Baebijang-jeon, a nonverbal show produced by Jeongdong Theater. Support for the city tour was provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Participant feedback was enthusiastic for both the forum and the opportunity to explore Seoul’s attractions. “I really enjoyed the Seoul City Tour very much,” said Math Sounmala, Director General, Department of Planning and Cooperation for the Laos Ministry of Public Works and Transport. “It was very well organised and all the staff was really nice,” he added. Mr Math’s sentiments were echoed by Cambodian Under Secretary of State for the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Thun Yuthea Long, who expressed her “deepest gratitude to Korean organisers.”

Did you know?

The Shilla Hotel Seoul, the Korean Furniture Museum, and Jeongdong Theater are all members of the Seoul MICE Alliance, a partnership of Seoul’s leading business events stakeholders. Contact the Seoul Convention Bureau for more information about the SMA and the benefits of utilising SMAmember services.