Over the past seven decades, the alliance between South Korea and the United States has evolved from a security-focused relationship into a robust, multifaceted partnership that now includes significant trade and investment ties. However, with the upcoming US elections, the future direction of the bilateral economic relationship is faced with ambiguity. The aim of this program is to offer the latest insights into the evolving landscape of trade and investment between our allied nations, examine their reciprocal economic impacts, and assess potential shifts in light of the upcoming US elections.

We are honored to welcome distinguished guests from Korea to this event. Mr. Inho Lee, Executive Vice Chairman of Korea International Trade Association, will deliver welcoming remarks. Additionally, His Excellency Minister Inkyo Cheong, South Korea’s Minister of Trade will offer his congratulatory remarks. The expert panel discussion will be followed by a Q & A session and networking lunch. This event is a unique collaboration between the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy of ROK; the Korea International Trade Association; the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the USA; and The Korea Society.

This is an invitation-only program. For more information, please contact Sojeong Kim at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

 Co-hosted by

ROK- US Economic Cooperation and the Impact of the US Elections

Thursday, September 12, 2024

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Inkyo Cheong, H.E. Minister of Trade, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Inkyo Cheong assumed the role of Trade Minister at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Korea, in January 2024.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Cheong served as President of the Korea Security Agency of Trade and Industry (KOSTI), where he managed strategic material exports and imports and played a key role in the field of economic security. He also co-chaired the Advisory Committee on Commercial Negotiations and brings over 20 years of expertise in trade and commerce.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Cheong began at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) and subsequently took on various roles, including serving as policy advisor to both the Presidential Office and the National Assembly. Since 2004, Dr. Cheong has been a professor in the Department of International Trade at Inha University, where he has contributed to nurturing trade experts in South Korea and also served as Vice President in 2015.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Hanyang University and both his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Economics from Michigan State University.

Inho Lee, Executive Vice Chairman, Korea International Trade Association (KITA)

Inho Lee took office as the Executive Vice Chairman of Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on February 27, 2024. Prior to his appointment to KITA, he served as the President and Chairman of Korea Trade Insurance Corporation(K-SURE), Korea’s official export credit agency. In addition, Lee was the Vice Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) of Korea and he has worked for more than 30 years in the Korean government with main focus on energy and trade.

Earlier in his career, Lee worked for the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Korea to OECD. Lee is also well recognized for his remarkable contribution to successful trade negotiations while he served as the Minister-Councilor at the Korean Embassy in the U.S. from 2009 to 2014. His other significant roles at MOTIE include dealing with trade policies, developing new business sectors and supporting SME exports.

In 2016, Lee was awarded the Order of Service Merit (Red Stripes Medal) from the President of Korea in recognition of his great dedication to trade promotion. He holds BA in Economics from Seoul National University, as well as MAs in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and Seoul National University.

Taesik Han, Research Fellow, LG Business Research

Taesik Han is a research fellow at LG Business Research (LGBR) in Korea, the think tank of the LG Group since 1986. LGBR provides in-depth analysis of business environment changes to support LG's strategic decision-making. Han’s research primarily focuses on the transformation of global supply chains in the context of geopolitical competition and geoeconomic fragmentation, with particular emphasis on the impact of U.S. industrial and trade policies amid growing political and economic polarization.

Prior to joining LGBR, Han worked at the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), which operates 129 offices in 84 countries to assist Korean companies in expanding their global presence. During his time at KOTRA, he engaged in a wide range of activities, including research, global marketing, and foreign direct investment (FDI) promotion, and spent four years at the agency's New York office (2013–2017).

Han holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from Georgetown University and both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Economics, with a concentration in international trade, from Seoul National University.

Won Cheol Kang, Big Jump Management Officer, Schwan’s Company

Won Cheol Kang currently serves as “Big Jump” management officer at Schwan’s Company, a U.S.-based affiliate of CJ CheilJedang Corporation (CJCJ). He is responsible for leading the strategy and execution of Schwan’s global strategic products team and Ethnic Sales Division. He also leads the company’s “Big Jump” planning team, which supports long-term growth initiatives and coordinates with CJCJ headquarters in Seoul, Korea.

Won has accumulated more than two decades of experience in the food and beverage industry and joined Schwan’s after it was acquired by CJCJ in 2019. His original assignment involved post-merger integration initiatives focused on supporting rapid growth in North America. Following Schwan’s 2023 integration with CJ Foods USA in the U.S., he led the long-range strategy process in North America for global strategic products.

Prior to Schwan’s, Won initially joined the CJCJ team in 2017, with a focus on strategic planning and global business management. Earlier, he spent 10 years in Europe working for companies such as JDE (Jacobs Douwe Egberts), Mondelez International and Kraft Foods International. He has held various roles focusing on strategy planning, new business development, research and development, innovation, manufacturing and engineering.

Won holds a M.A. in business strategy and innovation from Saïd Business School, Oxford University, and a B.S. in chemical engineering from KwangWoon University in Seoul.

Yoonie Kim, Director of Business Development
Foreign Direct Investment & Economic Development, AtkinsRéalis

Yoonie Kim joined AtkinsRéalis in May 2024, a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world, as its new Director of Business Development – Foreign Direct Investment in the United States and Mexico. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Mrs. Kim will expand AtkinsRéalis’ presence in the industrial sector with a focus on attracting foreign investments from South Korean, Japanese and Chinese clients.

"More than $200 US Billion has been invested here in the States from the Asia-Pacific region in just the last three years, which is leading to incredible growth and demand for our industrial services,” said Steve Morriss, President, U.S., Latin America, and Minerals & Metals, AtkinsRéalis. "Yoonie is highly respected by companies and governments alike. She bolsters our already successful Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) market and fits exceptionally well with our accelerated industrial market growth strategy.”

Mrs. Kim is recognized for her FDI acumen connecting foreign investors, primarily South Korean companies, with American based projects over the past 18 years. Prior to joining AtkinsRéalis, she was the Director of Korean Investment for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Mrs. Kim is credited with recruiting more than 130 FDI projects to Georgia, representing over $11US billion in capital investment and creating 22,600+ jobs, including the $5.5US billion Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. She earned high praise for her “instrumental” work securing Hyundai’s first dedicated Electric Vehicle mass-production plant during Georgia’s 2023 State of the State address from Governor Brian Kemp.

Yoonie earned her Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Hanyang University in South Korea. She is fluent in English, Korean and Japanese. She loves classical music and plays piano and cello. Yoonie is on the Board of Directors at the Korea South-East U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Korea Society. She has been selected 25 Most influential Asian Americans in Georgia in 2019.

David Park, Partner, Arnold & Porter

David Park is head of the firm's International Trade group and advises U.S. and international clients on a variety of international trade issues. He has extensive experience litigating trade remedies, including antidumping, countervailing duty and safeguard actions, before U.S. agencies, courts and the WTO, as well as counseling clients on U.S. customs, export controls and economic sanctions laws. He also counsels clients on trade policy matters, market access and WTO disputes. He represents clients before the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He has achieved a number of significant victories on behalf of his clients in major trade remedies litigation cases.

David received his B.A. in international relations from Tufts University in 1993 and his J.D. from Boston University in 1996, where he was a member of the National Appellate Advocacy moot court team. While in law school, he clerked for the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, Public Protection Bureau. David also received an LL.M. in international and comparative law from Georgetown University in 2001.

He has lived in Seoul, Korea; Lagos, Nigeria; Bogota, Colombia; Ottawa, Canada; and various parts of the United States. He is fluent in Korean.