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Busan City and the Overseas Koreans Agency to Host the 2025 World Korean Business Forum and Trade Consultation Event

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and the Overseas Koreans Agency (Commissioner Lee Sang-deok) announced that they are co-hosting the 2025 World Korean Business Forum and Trade Consultation Event from June 9 to 10 at Lotte Hotel Busan.

This event is designed to boost overseas expansion opportunities for Busan-based SMEs through cooperation with overseas Korean businesspeople.

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Forum and Trade Consultations Overview

• ●June 9: 2025 World Korean Business Forum, themed Strategies to Strengthen a Global Korean Economic Network, will bring together key figures including Vice Mayor Kim Gwang-hoe, Deputy Commissioner Byun Cheol-hwan, overseas Korean business advisors, and SME representatives

• ●June 10: 1:1 trade consultations with overseas buyers from the U.S., China, Japan, Vietnam, and others

• ●June 11: Factory and tourism tour for international buyers, showcasing Busan's innovative brands

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Forum Highlights
The forum begins with a keynote speech by Prof. Jin-young Lee (Inha University), followed by panel discussions featuring:

• ●Jang Jeong-jae, Senior Researcher, Busan Research Institute

• ●Kwon Do-kyum, Regional Director, Korea International Trade Association

• ●Hong Soo-yeon, OK-BIZ (Overseas Korean Business Advisor)

Key discussion topics include:

• ●Global market expansion through Korean business networks

• ●SME export strategies using global networks

• ●Cooperation through overseas trade offices and diaspora networks

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Trade Consultation Sessions – June 10

More than 50 overseas buyers and advisors from:

• ●Busan Overseas Trade Offices: U.S., China, Japan, Vietnam (30 companies)

• ●Overseas Koreans Agency’s OK-BIZ Advisors: Europe, Oceania, Southeast Asia, CIS, North and South America, Africa (20 companies)

Buyers will engage in 1:1 meetings with Busan SMEs, focusing on both industrial goods (e.g., shipbuilding parts, machinery, metal components) and consumer goods (e.g., cosmetics, food, daily supplies). Interpretation services and all logistics are provided at no cost to participating companies.

Last year’s event achieved $5.7 million in trade consultation results, with 37 overseas buyers connecting with 117 Busan companies.

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Product Categories

• ●Industrial Goods: Machinery parts, shipbuilding materials, construction components

• ●Consumer Goods: Cosmetics, beauty items, food and beverages, lifestyle products

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Special Invitation – Global South and Beyond
This year’s event places special focus on inviting buyers from the Global South, Europe, and Oceania. The Overseas Koreans Agency has mobilized global diaspora networks to create opportunities for export consulting and exchange with regional businesses.

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Kim Gwang-hoe, Vice Mayor for Future Innovation, stated:

“Amid increasing global economic uncertainty, we hope this forum will serve as a platform for collaboration between overseas Korean business leaders and local SMEs.
We will continue to strengthen business exchange and cooperation networks through this meaningful international initiative.”

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Appendix 1. Overview of the Trade Consultation Event

• ●Date: June 9–12, 2025

• ●Format:

• ○June 9: World Korean Business Forum

• ○June 10: Trade Consultations

• ○June 11: Factory Tours

• ●Participants: 50 overseas buyers (30 via Trade Offices / 20 OK-BIZ advisors), 180 business representatives

• ●Location: Lotte Hotel Busan

• ●Format: 1:1 business matching sessions

Appendix 2. Forum Details

• ●Date/Time: June 9, 2025 (16:30–19:00)

• ●Venue: 3rd Floor, Pearl Room, Lotte Hotel Busan

• ●Theme: Business Strategies to Build a Global Korean Economic Network

• ●Organizers: Busan Metropolitan City, Overseas Koreans Agency, Busan Economic Promotion Agency

• ●Participants: 80 people including the Vice Mayor, Deputy Commissioner, OK-BIZ advisors, overseas trade office heads, and SME representatives