The Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) said on the 3rd that it held the import policy forum "RE:IMPORT 2026" jointly with Huh Sung-moo of the Democratic Party of Korea and the Korea Association of Trade and Commercial Law.
The forum was held on the 2nd at Seminar Room 3 of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul. The themes addressed were "Corporate support and association innovation strategies for the role of the import industry in contributing to improving the trade imbalance and for advancing the ecosystem" and "Practical and legal-institutional response strategies for import corporations in line with changes in the global trade environment."
The association held the forum to reexamine the strategic value of the import industry as uncertainty grows in the external environment, including reorganization of global supply chains, stronger protectionism, and changes in trade norms.
The forum was structured as a venue where the government and industry could discuss strategies to respond to the trade environment, given that imports can cushion trade frictions by improving the trade imbalance.
Yoon Young-mi, chair of the Korea Importers Association, said in opening remarks that "imports are the core foundation that supports industrial competitiveness and supply chain stability," adding that "the economic role and contributions of the import industry should be reflected in policy in a balanced way."
Huh Sung-moo said, "Small and midsize import corporations are struggling due to rising tariff and logistics costs and various regulations, so there is a need to expand policy support," adding, "At the National Assembly level, we will actively support strengthening supply chain security and improving systems."
Lee Byung-moon, chair of the Korea Association of Trade and Commercial Law, said, "Through the forum, we diagnosed the realities and policy needs of the import industry that had not been sufficiently discussed under an export-centered policy stance," adding, "the association will also work to present practical policy alternatives."
Kang Gam-chan, head of the Trade and Investment Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, said, "Imports played a foundational role behind last year's surpassing of $700 billion in exports," adding, "I hope this forum serves as an opportunity to identify policy tasks needed for the development of imports and trade."