The forum was hosted by KOPEC Co-Chairman Siwook Lee, President of KIEP, and Chul Chung, FKI Research Representative and President of KERI. Professor Danny Leipziger of George Washington University (former Vice President of World Bank) joined the forum as a presenter to discuss the political and economic challenges in the Asia-Pacific region related to the U.S. presidential election, scheduled for this November.

KOPEC Co-Chairman Chul Chung stressed in his opening remarks that it is necessary to prepare for various possibilities while keeping a close eye on changes in the direction of U.S. industrial and trade policies following the results of the U.S. presidential election, which is just two months away. Furthermore, he mentioned that this forum will provide a venue for sharing valuable insights into the changing political environment of the U.S. and the economic challenges that may arise in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in Korea.

Professor Danny Leipziger presented under the theme of “U.S. Politics and Economic Challenges in the Asia Pacific.” He addressed the external threats that South Korea faces, such as geopolitical division, low growth, unstable supply of raw materials, expansion of nationalism, and excessive industrial policies, as well as the internal challenges confronting Korea, such as the low birth rate, demographic issues, elderly poverty, youth unemployment, and government-business relations.

Professor Leipziger emphasized that it is important for each country to solve their own internal problems to cope with global threats. As part of these efforts, he suggested enhancing soft diplomacy, joint R&D, and strengthening relationships between companies and universities.

During the Q&A session, presided over by KOPEC Co-Chairman Chul Chung, the participants engaged in detailed discussions on U.S.-China relations following the U.S. presidential election, future outlook for APEC and the WTO, and potential impacts on the Korean economy and industry.

Former minister and vice minister-level officials, executives of major companies, and leading experts in economic and trade sectors attended the forum, including: Professor Moonsung Kang, Graduate School of International Studies, Korea University; Chong Ghee Ahn, Senior Advisor of Kim & Chang (Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs); Wook Chae, Visiting Professor of Global Leaders College at Yonsei University (Former President of KIEP); Seokyoung Choi, Senior Advisor of Lee & Ko (Former Ambassador to the UN and the WTO in Geneva); Byung-il Choi, Professor Emeritus of Ewha Womans University (President of Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies); Doo Bong Han, President of Korea Rural Economic Institute; Hongyul Han, Professor of Department of Economics at Hanyang University; Jai-Joon Hur, President of the Korea Labor Institute; Jung Taik Hyun, Chairman of Jungseok-Inha Education Foundation (Former President of KIEP); Oh-seok Hyun, Former Deputy Prime Minister; Moonsung Kang, Professor of Graduate School of International Studies at Korea University; In Soo Kang, Professor of Department of Economics at Sookmyung Women’s University; Tae Soo Kang, Invited Professor of College of Business at KAIST; Bong-Man Kim, Head of International Affair’s Division at FKI; Hyung Joo Kim, Research Head of LG Business Research; Garam Kim, Project Leader of SK SUPEX Global Public Affair Team; Taeho Lee, Senior Advisor of Lee & Ko (Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs); Taekyu Lee, Senior Research Fellow of Global Risk Management Team at FKI; Jukwan Lee, Director of National Center for APEC Studies at KIEP; Jaebong Ro, President & CEO of the Some Sevit Corporation; Jung Hoon Seol, Senior Vice President of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering; Mihyang Shim, Vice President of Lotte Chemical; Kyungjin Song, Country Representative of Asia Foundation; Yoocheul Song, Professor of Department of International Business at Dongduk Women’s University; Junsok Yang, Professor of Economics Department at Catholic University of Korea (in alphabetical order by last name).

- Title: The 2nd 2024 KOPEC Asia-Pacific Strategy Forum

- Date & Time: September 2, 2024, 7:30-9:00 a.m.

- Venue: FKI Tower Conference Center, Seoul

- Co-hosts: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI)

- Contact: Ms. Soyoung Kwak, Senior Researcher, National Center for APEC Studies (sykwak@kiep.go.kr)