To mark the New Year of 2026, key figures from the business community, the government and the National Assembly gathered in one place and agreed to join forces for an economic reboot.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry held the "2026 business community New Year's gathering" on the afternoon of Jan. 2 at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. First launched in 1962 and marking its 64th edition this year, the event is the largest New Year's gathering in the business community, bringing together figures from corporations as well as from the government, the National Assembly and all sectors of society.
Held under the slogan "Growing corporations, leaping Korea," this year's New Year's gathering was attended by Chey Tae-won, KORCHAM chairman; Ryu Jin, The Federation of Korean Industries chairman; Yoon Jin-sik, Korea International Trade Association chairman; Sohn Kyung-shik, Korea Enterprises Federation chairman; and Kim Ki-moon, Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises chairman, along with about 500 business leaders including the heads of the five major business groups.
From the government, attendees included Prime Minister Kim Min-seok; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Koo Yun-cheol, who also serves as Minister of Finance and Economy; Minister Kim Jung-kwan of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources; Minister Kim Sung-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment; Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL); Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups; Chairperson Lee Eog-weon of the Financial Services Commission; and Chairperson Ju Biung-ghi of the Korea Fair Trade Commission.
From the National Assembly, attendees included Jung Chung-rae, Democratic Party of Korea leader; Jang Dong-hyeok, People Power Party leader; Cho Kuk, Rebuilding Korea Party leader; and Lee Jun-seok, Reform Party leader.
From major corporations, attendees included Park Seung-hee, Samsung Electronics president; Lee Hyung-hee, SK vice chairman; Sung Kim, Hyundai Motor president; Ha Beom-jong, LG president; Lee Tae-gil, Hanwha president; Han Chae-yang, Emart president; Woo Kee-Hong, Korean Air vice chairman; Hyun Jeong-eun, Hyundai Group chair; and Jung Ki-ok, LSC Food chair, along with the Seoul Chamber chair group, as well as Kim Yoon, Samyang Holdings chair; Chang In-hwa, POSCO Group chair; Koo Ja-eun, LS Group chair; Lee Hee-beom, Booyoung Group chair; and Kim Sun-gyu, Hoban Group chair.
Representing regional economies were Park Yoon-kyung, Daegu Chamber chair; Park Joo-bong, Incheon Chamber chair; Han Sang-won, Gwangju Chamber chair; Jung Tae-hee, Daejeon Chamber chair; Bae Hae-dong, Anyang-Gwacheon Chamber chair; and Choi Jae-ho, Changwon Chamber chair.
The event began with a video titled "One more time! Corporations will run." The video highlighted the resilience of Korea's economy as corporations and the government joined forces to overcome crises, and conveyed a message that corporations will lead Korea's new leap forward amid a global technology war and shifting industrial order by harnessing strength. It also delivered a pledge, in the year of the red horse, for our business community to forge ahead like an Akhal-Teke.
Chey Tae-won, KORCHAM chairman, said in his greeting, "2026 may become the most important year for Korea," adding, "This could be the last moment to decide whether we will face negative growth as we are, or make this the first year of a new growth phase."
Chey noted, "Korea achieved growth in the 8% range until 30 years ago, but the growth rate has fallen by about 1 to 2 percentage points every five years, raising concerns of negative growth ahead." He added, "To ride the most important wave of growth, artificial intelligence (AI), we need to grow a startup market for the AI generation, lay the infrastructure preemptively, and bring in overseas resources," and argued, "All policies must be focused on growth."
He also emphasized collaboration with Japan. Chey said, "We need to change laws to support growing corporations and consider creating a consultative body that the two countries can put into action," adding, "Institutionalization is also needed so a mega sandbox can function well."
Messages from other business association heads were then delivered via video.
Ryu Jin, FKI chairman, said, "As powerful waves, including the AI revolution, are reshaping the economic order from the ground up, we, too, must open a new K-industry era through a grand transformation of the Korean economy."
Yoon Jin-sik, Korea International Trade Association chairman, said, "Last year, despite challenges in the global trade environment, our trade achieved a historic milestone by surpassing $700 billion in exports for the first time."
Sohn Kyung-shik, KEF chairman, said, "If an environment is created where corporations can invest in a timely manner, and if we drive market vitality through innovative growth centered on advanced industries, our economy will once again be able to seize a grand transition to leap forward."
Ryu Jin, FKI chairman, said, "As powerful waves, including the AI revolution, are reshaping the economic order from the ground up, we, too, must open a new K-industry era through a grand transformation of the Korean economy."
Yoon Jin-sik, Korea International Trade Association chairman, said, "Last year, despite challenges in the global trade environment, our trade achieved a historic milestone by surpassing $700 billion in exports for the first time."
Sohn Kyung-shik, KEF chairman, said, "If an environment is created where corporations can invest in a timely manner, and if we drive market vitality through innovative growth centered on advanced industries, our economy will once again be able to seize a grand transition to leap forward."