Mayor Anthony Williams this week will travel to Seoul, the South Korean capital and the District’s newest sister city — a Wednesday-to-Sunday jaunt that will end with the mayor having been out of town 20 of the past 40 days.
The mission, financed by the Korean American Business Association of Greater Washington, will “lead to a useful exchange of information and best practices for both cities,” Williams said in a statement. The two capitals signed their sister-city agreement in March.
“This is an important statement of our willingness to work closely with our partners in Seoul, and — just as important — it’s a strong statement about the importance of our city’s Korean-American community,” Williams said.
Williams spent 10 days in Africa early last month, followed by three days in Las Vegas for a shopping center convention and several days of personal travel. With his five days in South Korea, he will have been out of Washington for three of the past six weeks.
Vince Morris, the mayor’s spokesman, said trips designed to promote the District’s economy and culture are “a huge part of the job of mayor and one he takes very seriously.
“And with cell phones and e-mail, Mayor Williams is in constant contact with his staff — whether he’s at City Hall or overseas,” Morris said. “His participation in the shopping convention is now copied by other mayors, while his investment in sister-city agreements is identical to what other cities like New York and Los Angeles are pursuing.”
