During the meeting, the mayors focused on various issues, including retail vacancies after the pandemic, public transportation innovations such as fare-free transit, and hosting an international forum on administrative capitals. Mayor Choi proposed the idea of gathering global administrative capital leaders to cooperate and solve urban problems together. He proposed, "Administrative capital relocation has emerged as a global challenge, including cities like Jakarta - Indonesia, and Cairo - Egypt. Let's gather global administrative capital leaders in one place to cooperate and solve urban problems together."
He suggested that Washington D.C., with its long history of capital relocation, should take the lead with Sejong City to solve this era's challenges. Mayor Bowser fully agreed with the proposal and committed to pursuing practical exchanges and cooperation with Sejong City in transportation innovation, smart cities, and economic development.
Before the meeting, Mayor Choi paid his respects to Korean War veterans at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and met with Ambassador Cho Taeyong (조태용) and Kathleen Stephens, Director of the Korea Economic Institute, to introduce Sejong City and discuss creating a Korean cultural district.
Furthermore, Mayor Choi met with Chase F. Robinson, Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, to discuss the status of the Smithsonian Museum complex and ways to collaborate on cultural projects with Sejong City. Robinson would visit Korea in May to provide advice on the operation of the Sejong City Museum complex and to discuss plans for a joint exhibition between Sejong and the Smithsonian.
Mayor Choi expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating that the Smithsonian has a long history and rich experience in cultural and artistic exhibitions and museum operations. As Sejong City grows into the administrative capital of Korea, it aims to collaborate with the Smithsonian to promote its cultural and artistic heritage.
