National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, second from left, speaks during a meeting with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
The government, lawmakers and municipalities have continued reaching out to foreign businesspeople in Korea to reassure them of the resilience of the Korean economy after political chaos intensified following President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law on Dec. 3.
Although government officials had regularly met with foreign business communities here even before the martial law fiasco, it is unusual for top policymakers to hold a series of meetings in such a short period of time.
On Friday, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and Rep. Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, had respective meetings with the chairman and members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), which has continuously emphasized its trust in the long-term stability and strength of the Korean economy.
"The people of Korea, the National Assembly, and the business community are all united in their efforts to overcome the current challenges," Woo said. "I would greatly appreciate AMCHAM's support in sharing this determination with the United States and the international community."
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, which hosted AMCHAM's meeting on Dec. 16 with the party's leader, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, will organize another meeting on Jan. 13 between Rep. Park Chan-dae, the party's floor leader, and the largest foreign chamber of commerce in Korea.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok held luncheons with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Korea on Wednesday and with the chambers of commerce from major European countries on Thursday.
"For foreign companies' investments in Korea and their economic activities to remain stable in any circumstances, the government will continue systematic policy responses as usual," he said.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok shakes hands with one of the representatives of foreign chambers of commerce from major European countries at Government Complex Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Before Choi started assuming the role as an acting president late last year, he had a roundtable meeting with representatives of foreign chambers of commerce in Korea in the capacity of the finance minister on Dec. 6, along with Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, who had another meeting with foreign businesspeople on Dec. 19.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with the Seoul Japan Club on Dec. 24 and AMCHAM on Dec. 26 in his capacity as acting president, although his suspension from duties on Dec. 27 interrupted his plans to continue meetings with other foreign chambers of commerce.
In the capacity of a prime minister, Han also attended an end-of-year event co-hosted by the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Dec. 11, three days before the National Assembly's passage of a motion to impeach Yoon.
Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo had a breakfast meeting with the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) that day.
Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo, who met with AMCHAM the same day, participated in the New Year's kick-off reception hosted by the Korea Foreign Company Association on Wednesday and asked for expanded investments in Korea.
American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) Chairman James Kim, fourth from left, and Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon, fourth from right, pose with participants in a roundtable meeting at the chamber's headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of AMCHAM
Among the heads of municipalities, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon invited AMCHAM to an emergency economy meeting on Dec. 10 and hosted another meeting on Dec. 13 with foreign chambers and investment banks.
Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon paid visits to the headquarters of AMCHAM and ECCK on Wednesday.
He also visited ON Semiconductor's plant in Bucheon the following day to encourage the U.S. semiconductor supplier to increase its investments in Korea, so as to display belief in the country's resilience.