Building Trust at Speed: STEP’s First Business Visit to Korea

From December 8 to 11, we visited Korea for our first business trip there.

While we have long enjoyed Korean food and dramas, this visit offered a much deeper and more meaningful experience.
Through Sapporo Transnational Expansion and Partnership (STEP), we had the opportunity to meet representatives from an award-winning digital twin platform developer company that is recognized for its numerous achievements and prestigious international awards.

Thanks to the strong relationship we have built with them, we were kindly invited to Korea by the Jeonnam Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency (JCIA). During this visit, we successfully signed a cooperation agreement, marking STEP's second MoU this December, following the one concluded in Taiwan.

Despite the short preparation period, every aspect of the program was exceptionally well organized — from transportation and accommodations to inspiring site visits, excellent meals, and a startup matching event with local companies. We are sincerely grateful to everyone involved for creating such a thoughtful and memorable experience.

In Japan, agreements and MoUs often require significant time due to internal approval processes. However, in this case, the strong trust between our regions allowed us to move forward at an exceptional speed. This experience reaffirmed how trust and shared vision can dramatically accelerate collaboration.

With heartfelt thanks for the incredible Korean food, the many beautiful gifts that felt like early Christmas presents, and the warm hospitality shown throughout our stay, we would like to close this reflection.

We including will continue not only to strongly support international businesses, but also to create an environment where our partners feel genuinely welcomed and at home from their very first day in Sapporo, Hokkaido.