La Chambre
Seoul Mayor Meets with Heads of Foreign Chambers and Representatives of Foreign Invested Firms on the Country’s Economic Stability
At an emergency economic meeting convened by Seoul’s Mayor on Friday, December 13, key foreign financial investment firms and foreign-invested company representatives and heads of major foreign chambers, including the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Korea (FKCCI), gathered to address concerns about Korea’s economic stability and to reassure foreign investors of Seoul’s resilience as a global business hub.
Among the 15 guests, French representatives were the most numerous, including Kyobo Axa, Pasqal, Eurazeo, and the FKCCI.
Seoul’s Mayor opened the meeting with a strong statement, emphasizing that Seoul remains one of the safest cities globally and a prime destination for investment. Mayor Oh shared that the city is implementing policies to revitalize the tech innovation ecosystem, including a 5 trillion won Seoul Vision 2030 Fund. He highlighted Seoul’s competitiveness in areas like AI, fintech, and the creative economy. Furthermore, he noted that Seoul recently climbed to 6th place in the global Best Cities Index, reaffirming its global appeal.
David-Pierre Jalicon, Chairman of the FKCCI, emphasized the chamber's role in supporting its 450 members and its wide business community abroad, and the importance of transparent communication. “We have assured our community that Korea is safe that there was business continuity, with no need of canceling business trips or adjusting agendas,” he said.
He praised Korea’s robust economic foundations and the government’s effective initial response. However, he warned of potential long-term challenges in term of credibility and image for Korea, highlighting the need for “a governmental roadmap to develop economic containment and recovery measures depending various political scenarios.” FKCCI Chairman also called for soft power initiatives, continuous communication, and collaborative events to reinforce Korea’s global image and ensure business stability.
The FKCCI will relay and support any Seoul initiatives during this difficult time, given its long-standing partnership with Seoul City, particularly in the areas of French and Korean startups, innovation, and cosmetics. The FKCCI Chairman is certain that Korea will rebound from this situation as he has witnessed it himself in the past. He is convinced that it could even be an opportunity to further reinforced the enhanced cooperation between foreign communities, especially France, and Seoul City. It could be the strongest signal sent to the global stage!
In his closing remarks, Mayor Oh reaffirmed Seoul’s commitment of supporting foreign businesses and expressed gratitude for the positive response to Seoul’s financial hub strategy. “We firmly believe that the situation will stabilize, and we are committed of addressing any difficulties you may face,” he concluded.
The meeting reaffirmed Seoul’s position as a resilient global city, well-prepared to navigate uncertainties and remain a beacon of economic opportunity.
