Hokkaido, Japan, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Korea. About 950,000 South Korea..

Disaster Support Agreement with Sapporo City
Preparation, not Post-Response
“The most important task of diplomats
To help in case of a national crisis”
Creating a consulate necessary for the site

사진 확대 Consul General Jang Yong-soo in Sapporo

Hokkaido, Japan, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Korea. About 950,000 South Koreans visited Hokkaido last year. It is expected to exceed 1 million this year.

As the number of tourists increases, the concerns of the consulate in charge of this place increase. As Japan frequently experiences natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and heavy snow, the challenge is how to protect Korean residents and Korean tourists in this situation. Recently, brown bears, which are symbols of Hokkaido, have appeared in the city center and tourist attractions, and new safety problems have also arisen.

Consul General Jang Yong-soo, who recently met at the Sapporo Consulate General, stressed that he would “confront this issue with preliminary preparation, not post-response.” On the 19th, an agreement was signed with the city of Sapporo to support Korean tourists in the event of a disaster. This is the first time that Japanese local governments and Korean diplomatic missions have signed an official agreement to protect our people in connection with a major disaster.

Consul General Jang said, “It is too late to discuss what to do after the disaster occurs. It is important for our people to decide where to go and who to contact.”

According to the agreement, in the event of a major disaster, Sapporo City provides disaster support supplies to Korean tourists evacuated to the Consulate General. The Consulate General and Sapporo City also provide counseling and language support to Korean tourists staying in designated shelters. It has also established an emergency communication network between the two agencies.

Consul General Jang said, “One of the most important tasks of diplomats is to ensure that people can actually get help when they are in crisis.”

사진 확대 Consul General Jang Yong-soo (left) of Sapporo is taking a commemorative photo after signing an agreement ceremony with Sapporo City Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto on the 19th to link and cooperate with tourists in the event of a disaster. [Consulate General]

Another example of Consul General Jang’s ‘field consular work’ is bear spray.

In April, the Consulate General began lending bear spray and bear drops free of charge to Koreans living or traveling in Hokkaido. The rental period is from early April to the end of November, when bears appear frequently.

Last year, the number of casualties caused by the appearance of bears in Japan reached the highest level ever. There were also deaths in Hokkaido, and reports of brown bears appearing in downtown Sapporo also increased significantly.

The problem is that it is not easy for tourists to prepare bear spray. If you buy it locally, there is a price burden, and there are restrictions on aircraft transportation to take it to your country. It is even more cumbersome for short-term tourists who plan hiking or camping.

“I thought it wasn’t enough to just tell the traveler to ‘watch out for the bears’. If so, I have looked into what the Consulate General can do.”

So what was on offer was a free rental.

It is unusual for the Consulate General to conduct such a project compared to other Korean diplomatic missions in Japan. Consul General Jang said, “The most important thing is not to meet the bear, but I thought it was also the mission’s role to provide necessary safety equipment in case of emergency.”

Consul General Jang explained the role of the consulate he thought of with the word ‘field’. Since taking office, he has been visiting various places in Hokkaido, including Higashikawa, Asahikawa, Hakodate, and Tomakomai, not just Sapporo.

Tomakomai, southwest of Hokkaido, is an area that pays attention to in terms of port and logistics. Consul General Jang believes that the two countries need to cooperate preemptively if the Arctic route is opened in earnest. It is also looking into the possibility of new economic cooperation such as data centers, energy, and port development.

Hokkaido boasts a huge size, nearly 85% of the size of South Korea, he said. “If you go there in person, each region has different resources and different areas of cooperation with South Korea.”

사진 확대 Consul General Jang Yong-soo in Sapporo

Consul General Jang is also paying attention to Hokkaido’s future value. It is climate change that he is particularly interested in. Hokkaido’s relatively cool climate could become a new competitive industry and housing in the future. In addition, the combination of DX (digital conversion), GX (green conversion), data center, and energy industry can create new opportunities for Korean companies.

Consul General Jang has a unique history of being a journalist. He is trying to put a new perspective on consular work based on his experience in newspapers and broadcasting.

“I think the experience of meeting people and making relationships as a journalist is still helpful,” he said. “Now I am trying to bridge with Japan from the standpoint of a diplomat representing the Republic of Korea.”