AMCHAM, KCCI urge Korean firms to seize US opportunities

AMCHAM and KCCI urged Korean companies to expand in the United States at a seminar in Seoul on Wednesday. They said bilateral ties are increasingly centered on investment, technology and supply-chain resilience, not trade alone. Speakers also discussed local regulations, market-entry strategies and practical issues such as visas, real estate and human resources.

The seminar was the eighth annual Doing Business in the U.S. Seminar and was held as part of a special program marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

AMCHAM Chairman James Kim said the next phase of the Korea-U.S. economic partnership will be defined by building, investing, innovating and growing together.

KCCI Executive Vice Chairman Kim Jeong-il said Korean companies need to understand local regulations and business conditions and build reliable networks in the U.S.

U.S. Sen. Todd Young cited SK hynix’s more than $4 billion advanced packaging and research facility in West Lafayette as an example of Korean investment supporting U.S. jobs and innovation.

The seminar has served for eight years as a platform for Korean companies to connect with U.S. policymakers, market experts and potential business partners.

Published Oct 1, 2026 9:00 am KST

Updated Oct 1, 2026 11:06 am KST

Korean companies advised to leverage US ties beyond trade, manufacturing

James Kim, chairman and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), delivers opening remarks at a seminar jointly hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at the latter's headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of AMCHAM

Korean companies are advised to expand their operations in the United States, as bilateral economic ties increasingly extend beyond trade to investment, technology and supply-chain resilience, the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) said Wednesday.

The U.S. business lobby and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) discussed opportunities and challenges of Korean firms when they expand investment and operations in America during the eighth annual Doing Business in the U.S. Seminar.

The seminar was held as part of a special program marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

AMCHAM Chairman James Kim said the economic relationship between the two countries is increasingly driven by the aforementioned sectors, rather than trade alone.

“The next chapter of the U.S.-Korea economic partnership will be defined not simply by how much we trade, but by how much we build, invest, innovate and grow together,” Kim said.

KCCI Executive Vice Chairman Kim Jeong-il emphasized the need for Korean companies to understand local regulations and business conditions, while building reliable networks in the U.S.

“The U.S. is an important market and investment destination for Korean companies,” the KCCI executive said. “In addition to strong technologies and products, a solid understanding of the local regulatory and business environment is critical.”

U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel delivers congratulatory remarks at a seminar discussing Korean firms' strategy to enter the U.S. market, at the headquarters of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of AMCHAM

The seminar featured executives from SPC's Paris Croissant, Mirae Asset Securities and SK Biopharmaceuticals, who shared their experiences of entering and expanding in the U.S. market. They discussed market-entry strategies, local partnerships and the challenges of establishing operations in the country.

The event also provided practical guidance on key aspects of U.S. expansion, including corporate visas, real estate, cross-border financial services and human resources.

Jung Yoo-joo, a U.S. attorney at Daeyang Immigration Law Group, discussed corporate visa strategies and key immigration considerations for companies establishing operations in the U.S.

“A U.S. visa is not simply an administrative step to be handled just before departure; it is part of the investment decision itself,” Jung said. “Capital can build a factory, but the success of a U.S. operation ultimately depends on whether the right people can be legally deployed on site when they are needed.”

U.S. officials and lawmakers also highlighted the growing role of Korean investment in the American economy. U.S. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana cited SK hynix's more than $4 billion (5.4 trillion won) advanced packaging and research facility in West Lafayette as an example of Korean investment supporting U.S. jobs and innovation.

Young also said Korean investment, technical expertise and workforce development could help strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding industry, an area he described as a key economic and national security priority.

The seminar has served as a platform for Korean companies to connect with U.S. policymakers, market experts and potential business partners for eight years. AMCHAM said it will continue supporting Korean companies seeking to establish and expand operations in the U.S.

美国美国商会（AMCHAM）和韩国工商会（KCCI）周三在首尔举办研讨会，敦促韩国企业拓展美国市场。他们表示，双边关系日益侧重于投资、技术和供应链韧性，而不仅仅是贸易。与会者还讨论了当地法规、市场准入策略以及签证、房地产和人力资源等实际问题。

本次研讨会是第八届美国营商环境研讨会，是为纪念美国独立250周年而举办的特别活动的一部分。

美国商会会长金俊杰表示，韩美经济伙伴关系的下一阶段将以共同建设、投资、创新和发展为特征。

韩国工商会执行副会长金正日表示，韩国企业需要了解当地的法规和商业环境，并在美国建立可靠的业务网络。

美国参议员托德·扬以SK海力士在西拉法叶投资超过40亿美元的先进封装和研发设施为例，说明韩国投资如何支持美国的就业和创新。

八年来，该研讨会一直是韩国企业与美国政策制定者、市场专家和潜在商业伙伴建立联系的平台。

发布于2026年10月1日上午9:00（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月1日上午11:06（韩国标准时间）

建议韩国企业在贸易和制造业之外，也要利用与美国的关系。

韩国美国商会（AMCHAM）会长兼首席执行官金杰（James Kim）周三在韩国工商会位于首尔的总部，出席由韩国工商会联合主办的研讨会并致开幕词。图片由美国商会提供。

韩国美国商会（AMCHAM）周三表示，建议韩国企业扩大在美国的业务，因为双边经济关系正日益从贸易扩展到投资、技术和供应链韧性等领域。

在第八届美国营商环境研讨会上，美国商业游说团体和韩国工商会（KCCI）讨论了韩国企业在美国扩大投资和运营时面临的机遇和挑战。

本次研讨会是为纪念美国独立250周年而举办的特别活动的一部分。

美国商会主席詹姆斯·金表示，两国之间的经济关系越来越受到上述行业的驱动，而不仅仅是贸易。

金正恩表示：“美韩经济伙伴关系的下一个篇章，不仅取决于我们贸易额的大小，更取决于我们共同建设、投资、创新和发展的程度。”

韩国工商会执行副会长金正日强调，韩国企业在美建立可靠网络的同时，也需要了解当地的法规和营商环境。

韩国工商会一位高管表示：“美国是韩国企业的重要市场和投资目的地。除了强大的技术和产品外，对当地监管和商业环境的深入了解也至关重要。”

美国驻韩国大使米歇尔·斯蒂尔（Michelle Steel）周三在首尔韩国商工会议所总部出席了一场关于韩国企业进入美国市场战略的研讨会，并致贺词。图片由美国商会提供。

本次研讨会邀请了SPC旗下Paris Croissant、未来资产证券和SK生物制药的高管，分享了他们进入和拓展美国市场的经验。他们探讨了市场进入策略、本地合作关系以及在美国开展业务所面临的挑战。

此次活动还就美国扩张的关键方面提供了实用指导，包括公司签证、房地产、跨境金融服务和人力资源。

大洋移民律师事务所的美国律师郑裕珠（Jung Yoo-joo）探讨了企业签证策略以及公司在美国开展业务时需要考虑的关键移民问题。

郑先生表示：“美国签证并非只是出发前需要办理的行政手续，它本身就是投资决策的一部分。资金可以建厂，但美国业务的成功最终取决于能否在需要时合法地将合适的人员部署到现场。”

美国官员和议员也强调了韩国投资在美国经济中日益增长的作用。印第安纳州参议员托德·扬以SK海力士在西拉法叶投资超过40亿美元（5.4万亿韩元）兴建的先进封装和研发中心为例，说明韩国投资如何支持美国的就业和创新。

杨格还表示，韩国的投资、技术专长和劳动力发展可以帮助加强美国造船业，他称造船业是重要的经济和国家安全优先事项。

八年来，该研讨会一直是韩国企业与美国政策制定者、市场专家和潜在商业伙伴交流的平台。美国商会表示，将继续支持寻求在美国设立和拓展业务的韩国企业。