Link to the original article :
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/path/A2025041815190004395
By Jhoo Dong-chan
The 2025 World Korean Business Convention concluded in Atlanta, Georgia, drawing significant attention from industry insiders eager to explore business opportunities with companies run by Koreans.
Held from Thursday through Sunday at the Gas South Convention Center, the business event was hosted and organized by the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) and the Korean American Chamber of Commerce USA.
The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (KBIZ) and local business daily Maeil Business Newspaper also sponsored the four-day event. It has been held since 2002 to promote business opportunities and networking between domestic and overseas Korean businesses.
OKA said in a press release that this year�셲 convention aimed to help foster a supply chain connecting production, consumption, investment and workforces between Korean businesses and diaspora communities.
�쏧 congratulate the opening of the World Korean Business Convention,�� Prime Minister Duck-soo said in his congratulatory address, read by SMEs and Startups Minister Oh Young-ju during the event�셲 opening ceremony on Thursday (local time).
�쏷he OKA�셲 ambition to help establish the supply chain between Korean businesses and diaspora communities will greatly contribute to Korea�셲 economy. The government will also do its best to support exporters.��
The event�셲 opening ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials from both Seoul and Washington, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, OKA Commissioner Lee Sang-duk, KBIZ Chairman Kim Ki-moon, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and Arkansas Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald. Around 1,000 industry insiders also took part in the ceremony.
According to OKA, Korea�셲 minister of SMEs and startups held a preliminary meeting with Loeffler to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries�� small businesses.
A total of 391 Korean companies took part in the convention, setting up 405 exhibition booths at the venue. This year�셲 event placed a strong emphasis on showcasing Korea�셲 cultural and media content, aiming to highlight the potential for domestic cosmetics and food companies to enter the U.S. market.
More than 500 global buyers reportedly held business meetings with Korean companies during the event, the agency added.
On the second day, OKA offered one-on-one business consulting sessions for participating companies seeking potential buyers abroad.
Georgia has emerged as an attractive business destination for many Korean companies, especially after Hyundai Motor Group announced plans earlier this year to invest $12.6 billion in the southeastern state to build large production plants. This investment marked the largest economic development project in Georgia�셲 history.
OKA also announced that Incheon will host next year�셲 convention.
At last year�셲 convention in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, approximately 3,000 overseas Korean business leaders participated, with 326 companies showcasing their products. Around 30 global social media influencers were invited to help promote products and foster business networking opportunities. The event was also open to college students.
Founded in 2023, OKA is a government agency affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supporting Korean diaspora communities worldwide.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs data, the number of overseas Koreans worldwide reached 7.32 million as of 2021, including 4.8 million foreign nationals and 2.5 million Korean nationals.
