LOS ANGELES (Yonhap) _ The mayor of Los Angeles said Monday that he will visit South Korea in January during a trip to Asia.
Antonio Villaraigosa met with South Korea’s consul general in Los Angeles, Lee Youn-bok, at City Hall and said he recognizes the city’s need for economic cooperation with Korea.

The mayor said his trip next year will also include stops in China and Japan.

During the meeting, Lee requested that the mayor permit the South Korean Consulate General to issue an identity card to South Korean citizens such as the one the consulate of Mexico in the city was allowed to issue in 2002.

An ID card would benefit South Koreans in such circumstances as opening bank accounts, gaining access to municipal buildings and libraries, obtaining power and water and reporting criminal acts to police.

The mayor said he will positively consider the proposal, Korean officials said.

Villaraigosa took office in July and is the city’s first Hispanic mayor in a century.