Kingston is home to the largest Korean population in Europe, so it is not a surprise that international links between the Royal Borough and the governments of South Korea are growing ever stronger. Following a Kingston upon Thames RLBC delegation visit, the Seoul Metropolitan Government reached out to discuss how a two-year secondment would work to share best-practice and further ambitions both authorities have towards digital advancement and international relations – which is where I came in.

I was welcomed to Kingston on 15 February 2018, where I started to work for the council and also to live in the borough, which has offered a unique experience in terms of being able to truly understand my new environment.