On the 16th, lawmaker Yeom Tae-young of the Democratic Party of Korea said, "The National Assembly will do its best to support innovation and create a fair competitive environment in step with the changing consumer and retail industry landscape."
At a congratulatory address at the "2026 ChosunBiz Consumer and Retail Forum" held at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Josun Hotel in Sogong-dong, Jung District, Seoul, that day, Yeom said, "We will firmly back the consumer and retail industry with policy and legislation so it can create new growth engines and develop into a sector that leads the future of the Korean economy."
Yeom said, "We are now living in a time when the paradigm of consumption is changing rapidly," adding, "In the past, consumers looked for products, but now it has become an era in which AI and platforms propose new choices to consumers."
He continued, "No matter how much technology advances, the essence that moves consumers' minds does not change. In the end, what guides people's choices is experience, trust, and empathy," adding, "AI can be a tool that helps with choices, but what wins consumers' hearts is the authenticity of people and brands. Ultimately, every good brand begins with an understanding of people."
He also said, "The brands consumers seek today are not just products but carry experiences, values, and stories," adding, "Even in the age of AI (artificial intelligence), the power to understand people is the most potent competitiveness."
Yeom said, "Korea is already leading global consumers' choices through K-content, K-food, and K-beauty," adding, "Now is the time to add AI technology and data innovation on top of this competitiveness to create new growth opportunities."
He added, "In this process, not only large corporations but also small business owners, small and medium-sized corporations, and local commercial districts must be able to grow together," noting, "A sustainable retail ecosystem can be created when the benefits of technological innovation do not remain with specific corporations but spread across our society as a whole."