Jakarta, Seoul explore cooperation on global city ambitions
Photo caption: Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno (left) meets with Seoul Deputy Mayor Jeong Sang-hun in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday (Oct. 7, 2026). (ANTARA)
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno met with Seoul Deputy Mayor Jeong Sang-hun in the South Korean capital to explore opportunities for cooperation in culture, the creative economy, urban development, and education.
"Jakarta and Seoul share many similarities as major cities in Asia. The two cities represent key economic hubs with strong creative industries and ambitions to continue growing and strengthening their positions as global cities," Rano said.
In a statement cited here on Wednesday, he noted that Jakarta has been one of Seoul's 25 sister cities for more than four decades, adding that the Indonesian capital has emerged as one of Seoul's most important partners in Southeast Asia.
He explained that the visit to Seoul was driven by his desire to learn from the South Korean capital's experience and exchange insights, noting that Jakarta is seeking closer cooperation with Seoul to support its ambition of becoming a global city.
Emphasizing the importance of knowledge sharing, the deputy governor said the Jakarta administration is keen to learn how Seoul has advanced while preserving its cultural identity.
"We are eager to learn from Seoul's experiences in urban development and planning. As Jakarta transforms into a global city, we have identified opportunities for knowledge exchanges on public spaces, urban design, and efforts to create more livable urban environments," Rano said.
Jeong expressed a similar view, saying Seoul also has much to learn from Jakarta, particularly in managing a city with a large population, high population density, and the daily mobility of millions of people.
Home to around 11 million residents, Jakarta is part of a wider metropolitan area with a combined population of about 42 million.
The deputy mayor said the scale of the capital provides Jakarta with valuable experience in managing the complexities of a megacity.
He added that Seoul is interested in learning from Jakarta's experience in addressing challenges related to population density, mobility, public services, and urban development.
