Choi Eun-seok of the People Power Party said on the 16th that how to combine retail strategies for the era of artificial intelligence (AI) with the global competitiveness of K-brands will become a new growth engine for South Korea's retail industry.
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, Seoul, that day, Choi said, "Our retail industry is entering an era of massive transition."
He said, "In the past, good quality and reasonable prices were the key conditions for hit products, but now it is becoming more important how consumers discover products, what experiences lead them to trust brands, and what motivations drive their purchase decisions."
He added, "AI is going beyond analyzing and predicting these processes to become a new platform that connects consumers and corporations," and "AI is evolving from a technology that improves retail efficiency to a technology that designs consumer choice."
In the process, Choi cited the global growth experience of the Bibigo brand. Choi is a politician from the corporate world who served as CEO of CJ Group's CJ CheilJedang and was selected as one of Korea's top 100 chief executive officers (CEOs) in 2022.
He said, "The reason Bibigo dumplings were able to succeed in the global market was not just product quality. It was because we continuously analyzed what consumers want and how they choose, and reflected that in our products and marketing strategies," adding, "AI is making this far more precise and faster than in the past."
Choi also emphasized the potential of K-brands. He said, "The spread of the Korean Wave created by K-dramas and K-pop is now extending to K-food, beauty, fashion and lifestyle overall," adding, "Global consumers are no longer simply seeking Korean products; they are consuming Korea's culture and experiences together."
He also noted, "The National Assembly will keep pace with this and do its best to improve systems and support policies so that our corporations can seize opportunities in the AI era and grow further in global markets."