(From left to right: H.E. Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, Ambassador of the Philippines; Ms. Ashley Mulroney, Counsellor, Canadian Embassy; H.E. Gourangalal Das, Ambassador of India; Dr. Min Byoung-chul, Chairman and Founder of the Sunfull Foundation; Mr. Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu; H.E. Tanee Sangrat, Ambassador of Thailand; H.E. Vu Ho, Ambassador of Vietnam; Mr. Arman Narbayev, Deputy Chief of Mission, Kazakhstan; and Atty. John K. Min, Senior Attorney and Partner at Dentons Lee joined by officials from the Seongdong Mayor’s Office.)
Seoul, Republic of Korea — January 14, 2026
The Sunfull Foundation, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Seongdong District, Seoul, hosted the Mayor’s Tea Roundtable and Smart City Site Visit on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, welcoming ambassadors and senior diplomatic representatives for an in-depth exchange on human-centered artificial intelligence, smart city governance, and international cooperation.
The program took place at the Seongdong-gu Office and was designed to introduce Seongdong District’s innovative administrative policies and forward-looking urban development model, while strengthening diplomatic dialogue and fostering cooperation between local government and the resident diplomatic community.
The roundtable meeting was attended by Mr. Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu; Dr. Min Byoung-chul, Chairman and Founder of the Sunfull Foundation; ambassadors and senior diplomatic representatives from Canada, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan; legal and policy advisors; and officials from the Seongdong District Office, reflecting strong international interest in Seongdong’s smart city model and collaborative approach to innovation.
Dr. Min Byoung-chul, Chairman and Founder of the Sunfull Foundation, emphasized the importance of dialogue grounded in shared human values, ethical leadership, and cross-border collaboration in an increasingly technology-driven world. He highlighted the role of civil society and education in ensuring that advancements in artificial intelligence and smart city development remain inclusive, people-centered, and globally connected.
Mr. Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, also presented Seongdong District’s vision for sustainable urban governance. The Mayor underscored Seongdong’s commitment to integrating technology with everyday life, focusing on citizen safety, environmental responsibility, and educational innovation. He also expressed his hope that the meeting would serve as a platform for building long-term partnerships with the international community and for sharing best practices in local governance.
During the tea roundtable discussion, Ambassadors engaged in an open and informal exchange on key topics including AI-enabled urban infrastructure, smart transportation and public safety systems, climate-responsive city design, and the convergence of education, technology, and character development. Discussions also explored potential avenues for international cooperation in smart city initiatives, youth education, and future-oriented public administration.
Following the roundtable, participants joined an on-site visit highlighting Seongdong District’s smart city initiatives under the theme “Human-Centered AI & Smart City, Seongdong.” The visit showcased practical applications of smart governance, including intelligent crosswalk systems for pedestrian safety, climate-adaptive smart shelters enhancing public convenience, smart smoking booths balancing public health and urban order, and the AI Future Technology Experience Center, which introduces young learners to artificial intelligence, creativity, and digital citizenship.
The event highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Sunfull Foundation to bring people together for thoughtful and meaningful positive conversations. Through initiatives like this roundtable gathering, the Foundation continues to create spaces where ideas about technology, education, and society can be shared openly. The leadership of Dr. Min Byoung-chul has helped guide these exchanges in a way that keeps people, values, and cooperation at the center, while encouraging steady connections between local communities and the international diplomatic community.