(LEAD) Yonhap forum explores ways to deepen S. Korea-Japan economic ties amid global fragmentation

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(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead as forum begins; UPDATES throughout; CHANGES photos) By Oh Seok-min

SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's key newswire, hosted a forum Tuesday to explore ways to forge closer economic links between Seoul and Tokyo as mounting global fragmentation reshapes the world economy.

Under the theme "A fragmenting global economy, bridging the Korean and Japanese markets," the third annual Future Economic Forum took place in Seoul, bringing together around 500 participants from the two countries, including political, business and academic leaders, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Yonhap News Agency President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hwang Dae-il speaks at the third Future Economic Forum in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)

Yonhap News Agency President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hwang Dae-il stressed the need for the two nations to join forces to become "a central pillar of a regional economic bloc" amid growing challenges at home and abroad.

"At a time when the external environment is rapidly changing amid the erosion of the multilateral trading system, the formation of regional blocs and rising protectionism, solidarity and cooperation between South Korea and Japan are essential strategies for survival," Hwang said in his congratulatory remarks.

"Beyond simple trade, we must forge a future in which our economies function as one seamless economic ecosystem," he said, adding that Yonhap will continue to provide diverse and substantive coverage to deepen trust between the two sides and help advance institutionalized economic cooperation.

President Lee Jae Myung stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo, calling it a "task of our time."

"In this era of epochal transformation, deepening cooperation and broadening its scope between the two countries is no longer something that can be put off but a task of our time," Lee said in a congratulatory message, read by Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public communication.

Noting his government's efforts to expand cooperation with Japan in advanced technologies, Lee also highlighted joint efforts to address shared challenges, such as low birth rates, aging and regional disparities.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also heads the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said closer economic cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo could generate more than US$1 trillion in synergies, calling for bipartisan political support and a shared framework to advance bilateral ties.

Chey also stressed the need for the two countries to address common structural challenges, including population aging, low birth rates and rising healthcare costs.

Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima called for closer economic cooperation between the two nations to build resilience amid global economic uncertainty, stressing that bilateral cooperation would benefit both countries and contribute to regional and global stability and prosperity.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, chief of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, speaks at the third Future Economic Forum in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)

A number of political and business figures from both countries also delivered congratulatory remarks, including Rep. Joo Ho-young, chairman of the South Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union; Japanese Rep. Ryota Takeda, chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union; Rep. Lee Jae-jung, chair of the National Assembly's culture, sports and tourism committee; and Koo Ja-yeol, chairman of the Korea-Japan Economic Association.

Other key participants included Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo, Woori Financial Group Chairman Yim Jong-yong and NH NongHyup Financial Group Chairman Lee Chan-woo, as well as senior officials from major economic organizations, including the Korea International Trade Association, and a delegation from Japan's Kyodo News, a sponsor of the forum.

Yonhap News Agency President and CEO Hwang Dae-il (11th from R) and other attendees pose for a photo at the 2026 Future Economic Forum in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)

The forum will feature three sessions.

The first session, titled "From rivals to partners: South Korea and Japan amid U.S.-China hegemony," will include presentations by Yoon Young-kwan, a former South Korean foreign minister and chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, on the need for closer strategic ties between the two countries. Lee Sang-yup, chief technology officer (CTO) of South Korean mobile carrier LG Uplus, will discuss opportunities for bilateral cooperation in emerging technologies.

The second session, focusing on a South Korea-Japan economic community, will feature Lee Se-young of Wrtn Technologies and Hiroaki Ishiguro of Lotte Holdings, who will share their experiences in expanding into Japan and promoting cooperation in Asian markets. Japan expert Yang Gi-ho will discuss the future of bilateral relations and strategic solidarity.

In the final session, Japan's Seigakuin University professor Ikumi Haruki will address the two countries' shared challenges of population aging, while renowned South Korean popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo will share his decadeslong experience in Japan and discuss new opportunities for cultural and content industry cooperation, Yonhap said.

The forum comes amid renewed efforts by South Korea and Japan to expand economic cooperation as the two neighbors seek to strengthen ties through regular high-level exchanges and closer coordination on shared challenges.

In March, the two countries signed a supply chain partnership arrangement and agreed to establish a regular policy dialogue on trade, economic security and supply chain issues.

At a summit in May, President Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation on supply chains, as well as energy security, including through closer cooperation on critical minerals, crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

graceoh@yna.co.kr (END)

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这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

（注意：论坛开始时重写标题和导语；全文更新；更换图片）作者：吴锡敏

首尔，11月3日（韩联社）——韩国主要通讯社韩联社周二举办了一场论坛，探讨在全球经济日益分裂、世界经济格局重塑之际，如何加强首尔和东京之间的经济联系。

据韩联社报道，以“全球经济碎片化，连接韩国和日本市场”为主题的第三届未来经济论坛在首尔举行，来自两国的约500名参与者齐聚一堂，其中包括政界、商界和学术界的领袖。

韩联社社长兼首席执行官黄大日于2026年11月3日在首尔举行的第三届未来经济论坛上发表讲话。（韩联社）

韩联社社长兼首席执行官黄大日强调，面对国内外日益严峻的挑战，两国有必要携手合作，成为“区域经济集团的核心支柱”。

黄仁勋在贺词中表示：“在多边贸易体系受到侵蚀、区域集团形成、保护主义抬头​​、外部环境快速变化的当下，韩日之间的团结与合作是两国生存的必要战略。”

“除了简单的贸易，我们必须打造一个未来，使我们的经济体作为一个无缝衔接的经济生态系统运作，”他说道，并补充说，韩联社将继续提供多样化和实质性的报道，以加深双方之间的信任，并帮助推进制度化的经济合作。

李在明总统强调了扩大首尔和东京之间合作的重要性，称其为“我们这个时代的任务”。

李在贺信中说：“在这个划时代变革的时代，深化两国合作、扩大合作范围已不再是可以推迟的事情，而是我们这个时代的任务。”该贺信由总统府公共关系高级秘书成基洪代为宣读。

李在谈到其政府为扩大与日本在先进技术领域的合作所做的努力时，还强调了双方为应对低出生率、人口老龄化和地区差距等共同挑战所做的共同努力。

韩国商工会议所所长、SK集团董事长崔泰元表示，首尔和东京之间更紧密的经济合作可以产生超过1万亿美元的协同效应，他呼吁两党政治支持和共同框架来推进双边关系。

Chey还强调，两国需要应对共同的结构性挑战，包括人口老龄化、低出生率和不断上涨的医疗保健成本。

日本驻韩国大使水岛浩一呼吁两国加强经济合作，以增强在全球经济不确定时期的韧性，并强调双边合作将有利于两国，并有助于地区和全球的稳定与繁荣。

韩国商工会议所会长、SK集团会长崔泰元于2026年11月3日在首尔举行的第三届未来经济论坛上发表讲话。（韩联社）

来自两国的众多政商界人士也发表了祝贺讲话，其中包括韩日议员联盟会长朱浩荣议员、日韩议员联盟会长武田亮太议员、国会文化体育旅游委员会会长李在中议员以及韩日经济协会会长具在烈议员。

其他主要参与者包括新韩金融集团董事长晋玉东、韩亚金融集团董事长咸英柱、友利金融集团董事长任钟勇、NH农协金融集团董事长李灿宇，以及韩国国际贸易协会等主要经济组织的高级官员，还有论坛赞助商日本共同社的代表团。

2026年11月3日，韩联社社长兼首席执行官黄大日（右11）与其他与会者在首尔举行的2026年未来经济论坛上合影。（韩联社）

论坛将分为三个环节进行。

第一场会议题为“从竞争对手到合作伙伴：中美霸权背景下的韩日关系”，韩国前外长、峨山政策研究院院长尹英宽将就两国加强战略联系的必要性发表演讲。韩国移动运营商LG Uplus首席技术官李相烨将探讨两国在新兴技术领域开展双边合作的机遇。

第二场会议聚焦韩日经济共同体，届时Wrtn Technologies的李世荣和乐天控股的石黑浩明将分享他们拓展日本市场以及促进亚洲市场合作的经验。日本问题专家杨基浩将探讨双边关系的未来以及战略团结。

据韩联社报道，在最后一场会议上，日本青学院大学教授春树郁美将探讨两国面临的人口老龄化共同挑战，而韩国著名流行歌剧男高音林亨柱将分享他在日本数十年的经验，并探讨文化和内容产业合作的新机遇。

此次论坛召开之际，韩国和日本正加大力度扩大经济合作，这两个邻国寻求通过定期高层交流和在共同挑战上更紧密的协调来加强彼此关系。

今年3月，两国签署了供应链伙伴关系协议，并同意就贸易、经济安全和供应链问题建立定期政策对话机制。

在 5 月的一次峰会上，李健熙总统和日本首相高市早苗同意进一步加强在供应链和能源安全方面的双边合作，包括在关键矿产、原油和液化天然气 (LNG) 方面加强合作。

graceoh@yna.co.kr (完)

（导语）李在与日本企业代表团会晤时呼吁加强韩日供应链合作

（第二部分）韩联社论坛探讨在全球贸易不确定性背景下韩国与非洲的合作

崔顺实在韩联社论坛上强调对非关系应采取“软钱”策略

（导语）韩国和日本将举行副外长级会谈，讨论朝鲜问题和双边议题。

（第二项议程）韩国、美国、日本外长重申“坚定承诺”，致力于实现朝鲜半岛完全无核化。

（导语）韩联社论坛探讨在全球碎片化背景下深化韩日经济联系的途径