Jinju forum returns for 4th straight year

The Jinju International Forum on Entrepreneurship opened Monday in Jinju for its fourth consecutive year, examining entrepreneurship amid global uncertainty and digital transformation. The 2026 forum focuses on innovation, sustainable prosperity, technological disparities, demographic changes and the climate crisis. Speakers called for international cooperation, accountable technology and broader access to artificial intelligence for small businesses. The forum runs through Tuesday.

The European Union accounted for about 10 percent of Korea’s trade and was Korea’s largest foreign direct investor, with investment stocks totaling 53 billion euros in 2024.

Martin Sajdik, the 70th president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, called for a multilateral system centered in the United Nations and warned that technology requires accountability and oversight.

Small and medium-sized enterprises represent about 90 percent of businesses worldwide and more than half of global employment, according to Ayman El Tarabishy.

Jinju Mayor Jo Kyoo-il said the city hopes to develop the forum into a world-class platform for international dialogue comparable to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Park Wan-su pledged support for a business-friendly environment and regional growth through the forum’s promotion of Korean entrepreneurship.

Published Oct 19, 2026 3:47 pm KST

Participants of the 2026 Jinju International Forum on Entrepreneurship pose during the opening event at Centennial Memorial Hall on the Gyeongsang National University campus in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Courtesy of Jinju City

JINJU, South Gyeongsang Province — The Jinju International Forum on Entrepreneurship opened Monday for its fourth consecutive year, bringing together business leaders, scholars, policymakers and international representatives to explore how entrepreneurship can address global uncertainty and rapid digital transformation.

Held under the theme “An Era of Global Uncertainty and Digital Transformation: What Is the Role of Entrepreneurship?,” the 2026 forum focuses on how entrepreneurship can drive innovation, promote sustainable prosperity and address challenges such as technological disparities, demographic changes and the climate crisis.

In his welcoming remarks, Jinju Mayor Jo Kyoo-il highlighted the city's entrepreneurial heritage, saying its emphasis on respect for people, community responsibility and innovation offered valuable lessons for navigating today's technological and economic changes.

Jinju is deeply connected to the entrepreneurial roots of major Korean business groups, including LG, GS, Samsung and Hyosung, whose founders helped drive Korea's economic transformation, Jo said.

Jinju Mayor Jo Kyoo-il delivers welcome remarks at the 2026 Jinju International Forum on Entrepreneurship at Centennial Memorial Hall on the Gyeongsang National University campus in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Courtesy of Jinju City

“Rooted in respect for people and the value of a community, (Jinju's entrepreneurship) has long brought together the pursuit of a challenge and innovation with a commitment to social responsibility,” Jo said.

He added that the city hoped to develop the forum into a world-class platform for international dialogue comparable to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Park Wan-su praised Jinju’s entrepreneurial tradition for fostering globally recognized companies and contributing to Korea’s economic development. He said the forum could promote Korean entrepreneurship internationally, inspire young people and strengthen global cooperation, pledging provincial support for a business-friendly environment and regional growth.

In a keynote address, Martin Sajdik, the 70th president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, stressed the need for international cooperation and multilateralism amid geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change.

He highlighted economic ties between the European Union and Korea, including trade, digital transformation, energy and defense. The EU accounted for about 10 percent of Korea's trade and was its largest foreign direct investor, with investment stocks totaling 53 billion euros in 2024, he said.

Sajdik also cited growing defense cooperation and called for a rules-based international order, warning that technological advances must be accompanied by accountability and oversight.

Martin Sajdik, the 70th president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, delivers a keynote speech at the 2026 Jinju International Forum on Entrepreneurship at Centennial Memorial Hall on the Gyeongsang National University campus in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Courtesy of Jinju City

Quoting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, he said, “The danger is not technology. The danger is technology without accountability, capability without oversight, decision-making without transparency.”

“Military power alone cannot secure peace. Economic power alone cannot command stability. And technological power alone cannot guarantee security,” Sajdik said, calling for “a multilateral system centered in the United Nations.”

Ayman El Tarabishy, president and CEO of the International Council for Small Business, emphasized the need to ensure small businesses can benefit from artificial intelligence (AI)-driven transformation.

Small and medium-sized enterprises account for about 90 percent of businesses worldwide and more than half of global employment, he noted, warning that unequal access to AI tools and training could widen the gap between large and small businesses.

International Council for Small Business President Ayman Tarabishy delivers a keynote speech at the 2026 Jinju International Forum on Entrepreneurship at Centennial Memorial Hall on the Gyeongsang National University campus in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Courtesy of Jinju City

“Large corporations are like giant ships; they have engineers, capital, and data. Small businesses are like small boats; they feel every wave,” he said.

“The promise of AI should not depend on the size of your business,” he added, advocating empathy, enablement and empowerment to help small firms adopt AI and involve employees in decisions about its use.

Drawing on Jinju’s famous lantern festival, he said small businesses could collectively illuminate the path forward, urging stakeholders to turn ideas into action.

The forum runs through Tuesday.

UN, universities highlight entrepreneurship in Jinju

Columbus flaunts 'servant leadership' as city's spirit

晋州国际创业论坛周一在晋州开幕，这是该论坛连续第四年举办。论坛探讨了在全球不确定性和数字化转型背景下的创业问题。2026年论坛聚焦创新、可持续繁荣、技术差距、人口结构变化和气候危机。发言者呼吁加强国际合作，推广负责任的技术，并让小型企业更广泛地使用人工智能。论坛将持续至周二。

欧盟约占韩国贸易额的 10%，是韩国最大的外国直接投资者，2024 年投资总额达 530 亿欧元。

联合国经济及社会理事会第70任主席马丁·萨伊迪克呼吁建立以联合国为中心的多边体系，并警告说，技术需要问责制和监督。

据艾曼·埃尔·塔拉比什称，中小企业约占全球企业的 90%，并提供了全球一半以上的就业岗位。

晋州市市长赵教一表示，该市希望将该论坛发展成为可与达沃斯世界经济论坛相媲美的世界级国际对话平台。

庆尚南道知事朴完洙承诺，将通过此次论坛对韩国创业精神的推广，支持营造有利于商业发展的环境，促进区域增长。

发布于2026年10月19日下午3:47（韩国标准时间）

2026年晋州国际创业论坛的与会者于周一在庆尚南道晋州市庆尚国立大学百年纪念馆举行的开幕式上合影。图片由晋州市政府提供。

庆尚南道晋州市——晋州国际创业论坛周一连续第四年开幕，汇聚了商界领袖、学者、政策制定者和国际代表，共同探讨创业如何应对全球不确定性和快速的数字化转型。

2026 年论坛以“全球不确定性和数字化转型时代：创业精神的作用是什么？”为主题，重点探讨创业精神如何推动创新、促进可持续繁荣以及应对技术差距、人口变化和气候危机等挑战。

晋州市市长赵教一在欢迎致辞中强调了该市的创业传统，称其对人民的尊重、社区责任和创新精神的重视，为应对当今的技术和经济变革提供了宝贵的经验。

赵先生表示，晋州与韩国主要商业集团的创业根源有着深厚的联系，包括LG、GS、三星和晓星，这些集团的创始人帮助推动了韩国的经济转型。

周一，晋州市市长赵奎一在庆尚南道晋州市庆尚国立大学百年纪念堂举行的2026年晋州国际创业论坛上致欢迎辞。图片由晋州市政府提供。

Jo表示：“晋州的创业精神植根于对人的尊重和对社区价值的重视，长期以来一直将追求挑战和创新与对社会责任的承诺结合起来。”

他还补充说，该市希望将该论坛发展成为一个世界级的国际对话平台，堪比瑞士达沃斯的世界经济论坛。

庆尚南道知事朴完洙赞扬晋州市的创业传统，认为其孕育了众多享誉全球的企业，并为韩国经济发展做出了贡献。他表示，此次论坛将有助于提升韩国创业精神的国际影响力，激励青年一代，并加强全球合作。他还承诺，庆尚南道将全力支持营造有利于营商的环境，促进区域发展。

联合国经济及社会理事会第70任主席马丁·萨伊迪克在主旨演讲中强调，在当前地缘政治紧张局势和技术快速变革的背景下，国际合作和多边主义势在必行。

他重点强调了欧盟与韩国之间的经济联系，包括贸易、数字化转型、能源和国防等领域。他表示，欧盟约占韩国贸易总额的10%，是韩国最大的外国直接投资者，预计到2024年，欧盟在韩国的投资总额将达到530亿欧元。

萨伊迪克还提到了日益增长的防务合作，并呼吁建立基于规则的国际秩序，同时警告说，技术进步必须伴以问责制和监督。

联合国经济及社会理事会第70任主席马丁·萨伊迪克周一在庆尚南道晋州市庆尚国立大学百年纪念堂举行的2026年晋州国际创业论坛上发表主旨演讲。图片由晋州市政府提供。

他引用联合国秘书长安东尼奥·古特雷斯的话说：“危险不在于技术本身，而在于缺乏问责的技术、缺乏监督的能力以及缺乏透明度的决策。”

萨伊迪克说：“单靠军事力量无法确保和平，单靠经济力量无法维持稳定，单靠技术力量也无法保障安全。”他呼吁建立“以联合国为中心的多边体系”。

国际小企业理事会主席兼首席执行官艾曼·埃尔·塔拉比什强调，必须确保小企业能够从人工智能 (AI) 驱动的转型中受益。

他指出，中小企业约占全球企业的 90%，提供了全球一半以上的就业岗位，并警告说，人工智能工具和培训机会的不平等可能会扩大大企业和小企业之间的差距。

国际小企业理事会主席艾曼·塔拉比什（Ayman Tarabishy）周一在庆尚南道晋州市庆尚国立大学百年纪念堂举行的2026年晋州国际创业论坛上发表主旨演讲。图片由晋州市政府提供。

他说：“大型企业就像巨轮，拥有工程师、资金和数据。小型企业就像小船，每一道波浪都让他们感到颠簸。”

“人工智能的前景不应取决于企业的规模，”他补充道，并提倡同理心、赋能和授权，以帮助小型企业采用人工智能，并让员工参与有关其使用的决策。

他以晋州著名的元宵灯会为例，表示小企业可以共同照亮前进的道路，并敦促各利益相关方将想法付诸行动。

论坛将持续到周二。

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