A leading French sociologist says Seoul must seek active globalization like Paris or London in order to become a world cultural capital.

Guy Sorman made the statement during a special lecture held in Seoul Thursday as part of a welcoming dinner for the second "Global Seoul Forum."

The renowned scholar added that Seoul citizens should be able to speak English fluently and have some knowledge of other foreign languages.

He observed that Koreans tend to be less open to what is foreign and thus have trouble expressing themselves in front of foreigners.

Sorman said Seoul has the conditions to become the most attractive cultural hub in Asia, citing its strict guarantees of press freedoms and democracy compared to Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Co-hosted by the National Academy of Science (NAS) and Seoul City, the Global Seoul Forum will be held for two days starting Friday.

The 16 attendees from ten cities --- Seoul, New York, Milan, Beijing, and Tokyo among others --- will speak on urban competitiveness, what makes citizens happy, and the relationship between culture and the economy, among other issues.