Bilans d’évènement
The FKCCI Hosts 2025 Economic Forecast Seminar, Analyzing Korea’s Economic Outlook Amid Global and Domestic Uncertainties
The French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) successfully hosted the 2025 Economic Forecast Seminar on Thursday, March 20, 2025, bringing together leading economic experts to assess Korea’s economic performance in 2024 and forecast key trends for the upcoming year. Against a backdrop of political uncertainties, global trade tensions, and long-term structural challenges, the seminar provided valuable insights into Korea’s economic resilience and future trajectory.
The seminar opened with welcome remarks by FKCCI CEO Ms. Sonia CHAIEB, followed by an opening speech from FKCCI Chairman Mr. David-Pierre JALICON. The first session featured expert presentations: Ms. Marlene MARQUES LOPES, Economic Counsellor & Head of the Economic Department at the Embassy of France in Korea, delivered an in-depth analysis of Korea’s economic outlook, while Ms. Yeon Jin KIM, Economist at Crédit Agricole CIB, shared insights into global economic trends.
A panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Jang Hyuk LEE, Professor at Korea University Business School and CEO of AligoAI, further explored Korea’s economic prospects, featuring expert perspectives from Ms. MARQUES LOPES, Ms. KIM, and Mr. Wonkyu SHIN, Visiting Research Fellow at the Korea Economy Research Institute. The seminar concluded with a presentation from the Gyeongnam Investment & Business Agency, a key event sponsor alongside Crédit Agricole CIB. Attendees also engaged in meaningful networking opportunities during a seated lunch.
The FKCCI expresses its sincere gratitude to Gyeongnam Investment and Crédit Agricole CIB for their generous sponsorship and invaluable support in making this seminar a success.
Economic Outlook In Korea
During her presentation, Ms. Marlene Marques Lopes highlighted that Korea’s economy demonstrated resilience in 2024, achieving a 2% growth rate, an improvement from 1.3% in 2023. This growth was driven by strong exports, particularly in semiconductors, which surged by 38%, and a robust manufacturing sector. However, domestic demand remained sluggish, and political uncertainties at the end of 2024 led to market volatility. The Korean won depreciated, prompting authorities to implement monetary easing measures, including interest rate cuts by the Bank of Korea.
Despite these short-term fluctuations, Korea faces long-term challenges, including demographic decline, productivity concerns, and the transition to a low-carbon economy, which remain critical areas for policy focus.
Economic Outlook In Asia and the Global Market
Ms. Yeon Jin Kim provided an overview of regional and global economic trends, noting that China’s economy grew by 5% in 2024, with an anticipated slowdown to 4.6% in 2025. While uncertainties remain, domestic consumption in China is showing signs of recovery, potentially boosting demand for Korean consumer goods, including cosmetics, fashion, and food & beverage products.
However, U.S.-China trade tensions remain a significant risk, particularly with Trump imposing an additional 20% tariff on Chinese imports. In the United States, economic growth is expected to slow to 1.9% in 2025, influenced by rising public debt and fiscal uncertainty under the Republican administration. Experts anticipate a slowdown in global economic growth in 2025, followed by a rebound in 2026.
In Europe, the impact of Trump’s policy will depend on the mix between the extent of fiscal easing and of the increase in tariffs. Meanwhile, France remains the most attractive destination for foreign investment in the region for the fifth consecutive year (2024), with strong developments in AI, renewable energy, and quantum computing.
Panel Discussion: Key Takeaways
The seminar concluded with a dynamic panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Jang Hyuk LEE, exploring the implications of U.S. trade policies on Korea and global markets. Mr. Wonkyu Shin addressed the contradictions in Trump’s tariff strategy, while Ms. Marques Lopes emphasized the strategic importance of the France-Korea partnership, particularly in high-tech industries and energy. Additionally, Ms. Yeon Jin Kim discussed how political uncertainty may affect investment flows.
The conversation underscored the need for strategic adaptation in an increasingly complex economic landscape, highlighting opportunities for collaboration despite growing challenges.
