GR Korea co-hosted the 2026 Korea Times Forum with The Korea Times on June 9 at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, under the theme “Made in Korea: Global and AI Enablement.”
The forum brought together policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, and industry experts for a discussion on what it will take for Korean companies to compete globally in a market increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, geopolitical uncertainty, and changing supply chains.
The timing was significant, as Korea is pushing to position AI at the center of its next phase of industrial growth, while companies are facing growing pressure to adapt their business models for a more fragmented and competitive global economy. Against this backdrop, the forum looked at how Korea’s strengths in manufacturing, technology, talent, and culture can be translated into stronger global businesses.
In a written congratulatory message, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting business innovation, advanced industry investment, and sustainable growth through AI. Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil also delivered congratulatory remarks, stressing that Korea’s manufacturing base must be combined with AI to raise productivity and strengthen the country’s industrial competitiveness.
The program featured keynote remarks from Sir Martin Sorrell, Chairman of S4 Capital, and Cho Yong-min, Partner at PwC Korea. Their remarks focused on the practical implications of AI for corporate strategy, from new operating models and faster decision-making to the importance of data, organizational readiness, and execution. They also pointed to a broader shift in the global business environment, where companies can no longer rely on past models of growth built around exports, scale, and efficiency alone.
The first panel brought together senior leaders from major Korean and global companies, including SK, Hanwha Ocean, and PTC, to discuss how Korean companies can build more durable global operations. Speakers addressed the importance of localization, workforce development, supply chain resilience, technology partnerships, and data integration. A recurring point was that global expansion today requires more than entering new markets. Companies need to become embedded in local ecosystems, build trust, and develop the capabilities to operate with greater speed and flexibility.
The forum also examined the role of AI across industries, from manufacturing and shipbuilding to digital platforms, consumer sectors, and content. Rather than treating AI as a standalone technology project, speakers framed it as a business capability that can support productivity, market adaptation, cost competitiveness, and new forms of growth.
Overall, the 2026 Korea Times Forum offered a useful space for business and policy leaders to discuss how Korea can move from export-led success toward a more agile, AI-enabled model of global growth. By co-hosting the forum with The Korea Times, GR Korea continued its work to connect public- and private-sector perspectives on the policy and business issues shaping Korea’s next stage of development.
Please see The Korea Times news release below for more information: Page link
[Photo courtesy of The Korea Times]
