Over 300 CEOs Met on May 19 in Tokyo for the 58th Korea-Japan Business Leaders Conference
Key figures from both countries pose for a commemorative photo at the opening ceremony of the 58th Korea-Japan Business Leaders Conference. (Photo = Korea-Japan Economic Association)
Top business leaders from South Korea and Japan have agreed to join forces in advanced industries including artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, and to mount a coordinated response to the global supply chain crisis.
The Korea-Japan Economic Association held the 58th Korea-Japan Business Leaders Conference on May 19 at The Okura Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan, under the theme “Moving Forward Together, Next Step.” The conference marked the first large-scale gathering since the inauguration of the new leadership of both countries’ economic associations, drawing more than 300 chief executive officers (CEOs) from South Korea and Japan.
Koo Ja-yeol, Chairman of the Korea-Japan Economic Association and head of the South Korean delegation, outlined energy and power infrastructure, critical minerals and resource supply chains, and cooperation in AI and robotics as the key priorities in his opening remarks. Koo emphasized that it was deeply meaningful for business leaders to be convening in Tokyo to discuss avenues for cooperation at a time when the two countries’ heads of state were continuing shuttle diplomacy in Andong, and he stressed that this year would prove to be a watershed moment in the development of bilateral relations.
Koji Akiyoshi, Chairman of the Japanese side, likewise underscored the value of cooperation through concrete action. Koji responded that business leaders must share a common direction in an era of change and serve as a guidepost pointing toward the next stage.
The conference carries particular weight as a private-sector consultative body that has continued without a single interruption since its inaugural session in 1969, even amid political tensions and economic crises. Notably, the visit paid by the South Korean delegation to Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and other senior Japanese government officials on May 18, the day before the main conference, has been regarded as an exceptional step.
The Japanese government expressed its high regard for the historical significance of a conference that has endured for 58 years and extended its full support for private-sector cooperation aimed at building a future-oriented relationship. Business leaders from both countries have expressed their commitment to faithfully serving as a bridge at the private-sector level, ensuring that the amicable relationship between the two heads of state translates into tangible economic outcomes.
The roster of attendees was equally impressive. From the South Korean side, more than 130 major conglomerate heads and professional executives took part, including Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group, Park Jeong-won, Chairman of Doosan Group, and Koo Ja-eun, Chairman of LS Group. On the Japanese side, more than 100 high-profile figures were in attendance, including Tokura Masakazu, Honorary Chairman of Keidanren, and Hyodo Masayuki, Chairman of Sumitomo Corporation.
On May 20, the final day of the conference, sessions focusing on future economic connectivity and a sustainable society are set to continue. Business leaders from both countries are expected to conclude the conference by adopting a joint statement that encapsulates the outcomes of the two days of discussions.
Jung Suk-yee
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