European business chambers seek stronger investment ties with Korea

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a forum with Prime Minister Han Seong-sook in Seoul to discuss foreign investment conditions and regulatory challenges facing European companies. About 200 executives and officials attended the event, which aimed to strengthen direct communication between the Korean government and European businesses. Han said Korea would cooperate so German and French companies can expand results in Korea and pointed to APK 2026 in Seoul next month as a new channel for investment and cooperation. The chambers also highlighted plans for a Korea-France technology symposium in Paris on Oct. 16 and a business hub in Seoul called Maison France.

The forum was held at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul on Tuesday and was jointly hosted by KGCCI and FKCCI.

About 200 executives from German, French and other European companies attended, along with government, diplomatic and economic officials.

Foreign Investment Ombudsman Kim Doo-sik discussed Korea’s investment climate and the importance of cooperation to attract overseas capital.

KGCCI Chairperson Park Hyun-nam said a stable business environment and close public-private communication are essential to attracting new investment.

FKCCI Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon cited the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations and the chamber’s 40th anniversary while urging bolder investment and technological innovation.

Published Sep 23, 2026 11:52 am KST

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook delivers a keynote speech during a forum jointly hosted by the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of KGCCI

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) on Tuesday jointly hosted a forum with Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook in Seoul to discuss foreign investment conditions and regulatory challenges in Korea facing European companies.

About 200 executives from German, French and other European companies, along with government, diplomatic and economic officials, took part in the event at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, the KGCCI said Wednesday. It was organized to strengthen direct communication between the Korean government and European businesses.

In her keynote speech, Han described Korea, Germany, France and other European Union members as trusted partners built on long-standing ties and shared support for free trade, openness, innovation and a rules-based international order.

“The government will do its utmost to cooperate so that investments and business ventures by German and French companies can generate greater results in Korea,” Han said.

Han highlighted the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2026), scheduled to take place in Seoul next month, saying she hoped it would open new channels for investment and corporate cooperation.

Representatives of Korean, German and French businesses pose during a forum jointly hosted by the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of KGCCI

Welcoming remarks were delivered by German Ambassador Georg Schmidt, French Chargé d’Affaires Philomene Robin Pierron, and EU Ambassador Ugo Astuto. Foreign Investment Ombudsman Kim Doo-sik discussed Korea’s investment climate and the importance of cooperation to attract overseas capital.

In a panel discussion, Christoph Hamann, head of Merck Healthcare Korea, and Han Hyun-su, CEO of Arkema Korea, exchanged views on regulations, investment conditions and operational challenges.

KGCCI Chairperson Park Hyun-nam said Korea should turn its industrial base, technological capabilities and innovative capacity into sustained investment, innovation and high-quality jobs. She said a stable business environment and close public-private communication are essential to attracting new investment.

FKCCI Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon, noting the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations and the chamber’s 40th anniversary, urged both countries to pursue bolder investment and technological innovation. The chamber plans to hold a Korea-France symposium on technology at the French National Assembly in Paris on Oct. 16 and establish Maison France, a business and networking hub in Seoul for companies and investors from both countries.

韩德工商会和法韩工商会在首尔联合举办了一场论坛，韩国总理韩成淑出席了论坛，共同探讨欧洲企业在韩国的投资环境和监管挑战。约200名企业高管和官员参加了此次论坛，旨在加强韩国政府与欧洲企业之间的直接沟通。韩成淑表示，韩国将与德法企业合作，帮助它们在韩国扩大业务，并指出下个月在首尔举行的APK 2026将是投资与合作的新渠道。两家商会还重点介绍了将于10月16日在巴黎举行的韩法科技研讨会以及在首尔设立名为“法国之家”（Maison France）的商业中心的计划。

论坛于周二在首尔悦榕庄俱乐部及水疗中心举行，由韩国工商会和韩国工商联合会联合主办。

约有 200 名来自德国、法国和其他欧洲公司的企业高管以及政府、外交和经济官员出席了会议。

外国投资监察专员金斗植探讨了韩国的投资环境以及合作吸引海外资本的重要性。

韩国工商会会长朴贤男表示，稳定的营商环境和密切的公私沟通对于吸引新的投资至关重要。

韩国工商联合会主席大卫·皮埃尔·贾利孔在谈到韩国与法国建交140周年和商会成立40周年之际，敦促加大投资力度，推进技术创新。

发布于2026年9月23日上午11:52（韩国标准时间）

周二，韩国总理韩成淑在首尔悦榕庄水疗中心出席由韩德工商会和法韩工商会联合主办的论坛并发表主旨演讲。图片由韩德工商会提供。

周二，韩国-德国工商会 (KGCCI) 和法国-韩国工商会 (FKCCI) 在首尔联合举办了一场论坛，韩国总理韩成淑出席了论坛，讨论外国投资环境以及欧洲公司在韩国面临的监管挑战。

韩国工商会（KGCCI）周三表示，约200名来自德国、法国和其他欧洲企业的管理人员，以及政府、外交和经济官员，参加了在首尔悦榕庄俱乐部及水疗中心举行的此次活动。此次活动旨在加强韩国政府与欧洲企业之间的直接沟通。

韩在主旨演讲中将韩国、德国、法国和其他欧盟成员国描述为值得信赖的合作伙伴，这些合作伙伴建立在长期联系和对自由贸易、开放、创新和基于规则的国际秩序的共同支持之上。

韩表示：“政府将尽最大努力配合，使德国和法国公司在韩国的投资和商业活动能够取得更大的成果。”

韩女士重点介绍了将于下个月在首尔举行的第十九届亚太德国商业大会（APK 2026），并表示希望此次大会能够开辟新的投资和企业合作渠道。

周二，在首尔悦榕庄水疗中心，韩国、德国和法国企业代表出席了由韩德工商会和法韩工商会联合举办的论坛。照片由韩德工商会提供。

德国大使格奥尔格·施密特、法国临时代办菲洛梅娜·罗宾·皮埃隆和欧盟大使乌戈·阿斯图托分别致欢迎辞。外国投资监察专员金斗植介绍了韩国的投资环境以及合作对于吸引海外资本的重要性。

在小组讨论中，默克医疗保健韩国公司负责人克里斯托夫·哈曼和阿科玛韩国公司首席执行官韩贤洙就监管、投资环境和运营挑战交换了意见。

韩国工商总会会长朴贤南表示，韩国应将自身的产业基础、技术能力和创新潜力转化为持续的投资、创新和高质量就业机会。她指出，稳定的营商环境和密切的公私沟通是吸引新投资的关键。

韩国工商联合会主席大卫-皮埃尔·贾利孔（David-Pierre Jalicon）在谈及韩法建交140周年暨商会成立40周年之际，敦促两国加大投资力度，推进技术创新。商会计划于10月16日在巴黎法国国民议会举办韩法科技研讨会，并在首尔设立“法国之家”（Maison France），为韩法两国企业和投资者打造商务交流中心。