[칼럼] My Story 11 - ● Becoming the CEO of the Asia-Pacific Local Government Network (CityNet) and the Secretary General of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO)

My Story 11 - ● Becoming the CEO of the Asia-Pacific Local Government Network (CityNet) and the Secretary General of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO)

March 21, 2022.

I was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic  and  Development (CityNet). After returning to Korea in March 2011, following my tenure as the Consul General of Korea in Shanghai, I had distanced myself from international affairs. So, being appointed as the CEO of an international organization after 11 years felt like a return to my roots. Having spent nearly half of my 20s, 30s, and 40s abroad as a student, an American lawyer, a professor in China, and a diplomat, it was a grand return for me. My predecessor, CEO Im Geun-hyeong, had also served as the Korean Ambassador to Denmark and the International Relations Ambassador of Seoul Metropolitan Government, which made sense for me to follow. In 2009, Mayor Oh Se-hoon of Seoul announced the relocation of CityNet's Secretariat to Seoul, alongside the decision to hold the 7th Congress in Seoul in 2013, during the 6th CityNet Congress in Yokohama.

CityNet is an international organization formed by local governments, institutions, and businesses to promote sustainable urban development and improve human settlements in the Asia-Pacific region. It was founded in 1987 under the auspices of UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), along with joint projects with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and UN-HABITAT (United Nations Human Settlements Programme). Today, CityNet has 162 member cities, institutions, and companies across the Asia-Pacific region.

As the largest and oldest inter-city network, CityNet’s goals include addressing climate change, improving resilience after disasters, supporting inclusive and equitable cities, advancing global sustainability agendas related to cities, establishing the most extensive urban network in the Asia-Pacific region, monitoring urban changes, responding effectively, and forming a network for sustainable and resilient cities. CityNet focuses primarily on capacity-building initiatives and inter-city cooperation projects to tackle climate change, disaster management, urban infrastructure issues, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

When I took office in March, I had to prepare for a large-scale event with over 300 participants, including mayors from the Asia-Pacific region, UN representatives, international organizations, and think tanks. This event was the 9th CityNet Congress, held in Kuala Lumpur in September 2022. Despite the pandemic, I successfully held the world congress, and I am deeply grateful to all who joined in making it a success. The event was an intense, war-like experience, resembling a daily session of the UN General Assembly. From Day 1 with the 41st Executive Committee (EXCOM) and the Welcome Dinner, to Day 4’s closing ceremonies, the schedule was packed, and each day involved intense meetings and negotiations, from 8 AM to 10 PM.

One highlight of the event was the SDG Awards Ceremony, responding to the UN’s global agenda on Sustainable Development Goals. Through the SDG Knowledge Platform, a collaborative effort between CityNet, UNESCAP, and Seoul, 12 finalist cities and institutions, selected from over 400 case studies, competed fiercely. Three of these were crowned winners through live voting at the conference. I was particularly proud that Kuala Lumpur, a city that played an essential role in organizing the event, won the gold medal.

The efforts of Kuala Lumpur’s mayor, Datuk Mahadi, were beyond dedication. He went above and beyond in ensuring the smooth operation of the 8th congress of CityNet, from providing VIP transportation to escorting participants through traffic congestion with police motorcycles. The food was also exceptional, a highlight of the event.

CityNet’s Secretary General, Dr. Vijay Jaganathan, unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19 two days before the congress, forcing him to join remotely. However, the support from the founding Secretary General Dato Lakhbir Singh Chal and the previous Secretary General Mary Jane Ortega was moving.

In March 2023, I visited Bangkok to attend the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2023, an annual event hosted by UNESCAP. CityNet hosted a session on Integrated Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities in the Asia-Pacific region, where I gave the welcoming remarks. Various leaders, including UNESCAP’s Sangmin Nam and Malaysia's Norliza Hashim, participated as panelists.

A key reason for my trip to Bangkok was to strengthen the relationship between CityNet and UNESCAP, as UNESCAP was the founding body of CityNet. I also had a productive meeting with Dr. Armida Alisjahbana, the Executive Secretary of UNESCAP and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, which led to a significant achievement. While reviewing the UNESCAP Charter, I realized that non-regional countries like the United States, the UK, France, and the Netherlands were granted full membership in CityNet, despite not being in the Asia-Pacific region. This idea led to the proposal to extend full membership to cities in the US and Europe.

In October 2023, the 8th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum and the 43rd CityNet Executive Committee meeting were held at the Suwon Convention Center. Over 2,000 participants, including ministers, mayors, and representatives from international organizations, attended this major regional forum. CityNet not only hosted the Executive Committee but also worked with UNESCAP to award cities that achieved significant SDG outcomes.

In November 2023, I attended the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, where I met with the President of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area and discussed the membership of the AMB (Barcelona Metropolitan Area) and future collaboration.

CityNet’s Secretariat role has opened my eyes to the Asia-Pacific region. My previous focus had been on regions like the United States, Europe, Northeastern Asia and the Middle East, but my work with CityNet introduced me to Southeast Asia and South Asia, including countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and India. Through active exchanges with mayors from CityNet’s 154 member cities, I have developed a deeper understanding of these countries.

Recently, I visited the Chinese Embassy in Seoul and had a productive one-hour meeting with Ambassador Xing Haiming, discussing CityNet membership for cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. I also met with senior diplomats and officials I knew from my time in Beijing, and I hope to meet with top Chinese leaders, including former Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng and former Zhejiang Party Secretary Li Qiang, in the future.

On October 1, 2024, I was appointed Secretary General of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO). After serving as a high-level diplomat, being chosen twice to lead international organizations feels like a stroke of luck. WeGO, unlike CityNet, has a global reach, as it was established by Seoul together with 50 cities to transform cities worldwide into smart, sustainable ones.

WeGO aims to facilitate public-private partnerships to help cities evolve into smart, sustainable communities. Founded in 2010, it now has over 200 member cities, public institutions, and tech companies. WeGO provides a global platform to help cities leverage their innovation potential, enhance digital capabilities, promote digital ethics, and develop transformative solutions for sustainable cities. WeGO also facilitates international exchanges, collaboration, project implementation, and learning.

☆ Author:  Atty Jeong-kee Kim ☆

● Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, State University of New York at Stony Brook
-  Doctor of Jurisprudence, Marquette University Law School
- Senior Executive Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Research Scholar in North Korean Studies, Peking University

● Experience
- Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai
- Commissioner General for the Korean Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo
- CEO, Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic and Social Development (CityNet)
- Secretary General, World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization(WeGO)
- Law Clerk, Milwaukee Circuit Court, USA
- Senior Attorney-at-Law, Dr & Aju LLC
- Distinguished Visiting Professor, World Economy Research Institute, Nanjing University
- Research Professor, Institute of Oriental Studies, Peking University
- Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University
- Chair Professor, Graduate School of Business, Dongguk University
- First President of Soongsil Cyber University

● Publications
- Georo English Studies Series for College Students [10 volumes] (Georo Publishing)
- I Challenge the Possibility of One Percent (Chosun Ilbo)
- The Art of Negotiation (Cheongnyonneongsin Publishing)
- Korea and the World (Chekmidum Publishing)