South Koreans find warm welcome in Shenyang

In the bustling Xita neighborhood of Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province, the many markets featuring Korean-style architecture, stir-fried rice cakes, pickled vegetables and sizzling barbecue could make visitors think they're in Seoul.

Shenyang is a longtime favorite among South Koreans, due to its similar climate, food and culture.

Park Chi-chul moved to the city in February after being named president of the Shenyang branch of Shinhan Bank, one of the largest commercial banks in South Korea.

Park said that while the winter in Shenyang is cold, the warm hospitality of the local people makes him feel at home. He also gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to the friendly neighborhood.

"Shenyang is the most suitable place in China for South Korean people," he said. "For example, you can experience Korean culture in many places, such as Xita. And we share the same taste for barbecue."

He noted that Shenyang is also close to South Korea in terms of culture and economy. His bank is expanding business in the city, where demand for financial services is rising among South Korean enterprises and individuals who seek to invest. Furthermore, Chinese clients are also investing in South Korea.

Eighty percent of the clients from the bank's Shenyang branch for loan services are Chinese companies — mostly State-owned enterprises in the manufacturing sector — because of the quick approval process and the branch's real-time connection with its headquarters, Park said. Many Chinese customers deposit money because of the bank's favorable interest rates, he added.

Shenyang, known for its advanced equipment manufacturing industry, is a magnet for foreign investment. As of the end of last year, it had approved 4,742 South Korean-invested enterprises, ranking second among the 138 countries and regions that have invested in Shenyang, behind only Germany, according to the Shenyang Commerce Bureau. Foreign capital from the country totaled about $7 billion.

In order to gauge the needs of South Korean companies, the city government of Shenyang organizes symposiums at least once a year.

South Korean companies such as CJ Group, POSCO, Orion Corp and Nongshim Co are thriving in Shenyang. Additionally, five banks, including Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank and Woori Bank, have set up branches in the city.

South Korea has also become one of Shenyang's most important trading partners and sources of foreign investment, according to the bureau.

Community touch

Hong In-soo has lived in Shenyang for 20 years, running a Korean restaurant, a cafe, two bakeries and an ice cream store. He said that people in Shenyang don't see him as a foreigner, but as a member of their community, and they helped him a lot when he started his business there.

He and his wife now have about 30 employees.

"I'm glad that local people like authentic Korean dishes," he said.

South Korea's Gyeonggi province and China's Liaoning have been sister regions for 31 years, and the cities of Incheon and Shenyang have been linked for about 10 years. There are about 1,200 South Koreans living in Shenyang.

On Oct 24, the State Council, China's Cabinet, approved the plan to build Shenyang as "an international center city in Northeast Asia". At the grassroots level, the internationalization of the city has already unfolded, setting an example for primary-level governance.

In a community in the Nanhu subdistrict of Shenyang, Jung Jae-ho, who is from South Korea, and his wife joined in a mooncake-making activity during Mid-Autumn Festival.

"Jung mentioned that the festival in South Korea is also a time for family reunions", and Korean-style rice cakes are prepared to share with neighbors, said Liu Shilu, an official of the community.

In addition to promoting bilingual signs and establishing service groups for foreign residents, the community also encourages South Korean residents to participate in volunteer activities.

"A South Korean grandmother teaches Korean language to children for free," Liu said.

Wu Yanhua, an official of the subdistrict, said the ideals of respect, inclusiveness and openness are used to build an international community.

Foreign residents are welcome in the management of the community. For example, last year, some of the community's South Korean residents reported that the fitness facilities were inadequate, so the subdistrict added equipment suitable for the elderly in the square, Wu said. "Now, you often see Chinese and South Korean residents exercising together in the mornings", and during the square dance sessions, South Korean women join in.

"Recently, after a heavy snowfall, several South Korean residents volunteered to help clear the neighborhood roads," Wu said. "This kind of neighborly assistance makes the community warmer."

Liu Shicheng in Shenyang contributed to this story.