Seoul and Shanghai Resume High-Level City Talks After Pandemic Hiatus
Senior officials from Seoul and Shanghai have held their first high-level city-government meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on business, tourism, nighttime economic activity and broader civic exchanges.
Seoul and Shanghai have resumed high-level municipal talks for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, opening a new phase of cooperation focused on commerce, tourism and urban activity after dark.
Jeong Sang-hun, Seoul’s acting vice mayor for administrative affairs, met Shanghai Vice Mayor Lu Shan at Seoul City Hall on Monday, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The meeting brought senior representatives of the two major Asian cities together to consider how their administrations can expand practical exchanges.
Nighttime economic policy was a central topic. Jeong showed particular interest in Shanghai’s work to revitalize commercial districts and encourage activity after normal business hours. The subject closely matches Seoul’s own policy direction following the launch of its “24-Hour Vibrant Economic City Seoul” initiative.
That initiative seeks to broaden the capital’s nighttime tourism, cultural programming and commercial opportunities. Cooperation with Shanghai could give Seoul an additional point of reference as it develops policies intended to make the city more active and accessible beyond the conventional daytime economy.
The talks also covered wider economic and social ties. Jeong said the two cities had built mutual understanding and friendship through years of exchanges and called for further cooperation in the economy, industry, culture, tourism and programs for young people. He said the goal was to create more opportunities for residents and businesses from both cities to meet and communicate.
Seoul and Shanghai established a friendship-city relationship in 2014. Since then, their cooperation has extended across urban management, transportation, the arts, tourism and talent development. The pandemic interrupted high-level in-person engagement, making the latest meeting a significant step in restoring official municipal contacts.
The renewed dialogue highlights the role that city governments can play in maintaining cross-border relationships through projects tied to daily life and local economic growth. Rather than centering on national-level disputes, the Seoul meeting emphasized areas where municipal administrations can exchange policy experience and pursue direct benefits for businesses, visitors and residents.
The next test will be whether the broad areas discussed produce concrete programs, such as expanded tourism links, cultural events, youth exchanges or shared approaches to supporting nighttime commercial districts. For now, the meeting restores a senior-level channel between the two city governments and sets out a practical agenda for rebuilding cooperation after the pandemic-era pause.