By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Mizushima on Jan. 20 in his office at Seoul City Hall to exchange New Year's greetings and discuss mutual cooperation between the two countries on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan.

Ambassador Koichi Mizushima, who served as the Consul General of the Embassy of Japan in Korea from 2017 to 19 and was appointed as the Ambassador of Japan to Korea in May 24, met with Mayor Oh once in August last year.

“If Korea and Japan, which currently enjoy a good relationship, continue to maintain this momentum and work together, I expect that exchanges between cities and people will become more active in the future,” said Mayor Oh.

”I hope that Tokyo will join the 40th General Assembly of the Metropolis World Anniversary Congress, which will be held in conjunction with Smart Life Week this fall, and that the two countries will develop a closer relationship of cooperation and support centered on the capital city.”

The Metropolis World Anniversary Congress 2025 will be held at the DDP from September 29 to October 1 this year, with the theme of the future of megacities.

After the meeting, Mayor Oh presented Ambassador Mizushima with a copy of “Sensation Seoul” Issue 2, “Seoul's Charm, Green,” which features beautiful gardens in Seoul.