South Korean Mayors Eye Columbia's Development and History

Columbia, the planned community created by , has attracted the attention of South Korea.

Several South Korean mayors visited Columbia Association officials recently in efforts to learn more about Columbia, a city referred to in its early ad campaigns as a and is now undergoing major changes to its core as charges forward.

“We talked about the activities of the []—open space maintenance, sports and fitness facilities and community services,” said Barbara Kellner, who manages the . “There was one gentleman who was responsible for developing a planned community in his larger city. He was wondering how we made this happen.”

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Among the group of seven mayors was Dr. Duk Kwang Bae, mayor of Busan Metroplitan City, the second largest city in South Korea with a population of 4.4 million and Dr. Sun Ki Kim, the mayor of Pyengtaek City (pop. 500,000) and vice president of the Korea National Association of Mayors.

The mayors met with Kellner, Michelle Miller, CA director of community services, and Laura Smit, CA’s multicultural program manager; for about an hour at CA’s headquarters.

One of the South Korean mayors, Dr. Sun Ki Kim, said South Korea is now developing cities of similar size to Columbia, including ones with populations of 100,000 and 150,000, according to David Greisman, a CA spokesperson.

CA officials said South Korea isn't the only country interested in learning about Columbia-- a few month ago, association leaders made a similar presentation to officials from China.

Kellner said the officials were intrigued by how the CA can provide a large number of services without being a local government.

Kellner said it's important for the CA to hold meetings such as these to teach others about the intensive planning process that went into Columbia.

“I personally think as we make presentations to people either from this country or abroad that we’re keeping that kind of planning and vision alive,” said Kellner. “It kind of publicizes the success of Columbia.”