[Exclusive] Seoul Chamber of Commerce Chairman Meeting to Be Held on the 1st of Next Month, Chairman Choi Tae-won to Be Elected

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, is set to be appointed as the next chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). This will be the first time that the chairman of KCCI comes from the heads of the four major conglomerates, which is expected to further elevate the status of KCCI.

According to industry sources on the 7th, the Seoul Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to hold a board meeting at a hotel in Seoul on the 1st of next month to appoint Chairman Chey as the successor to Chairman Park Yong-man.

The Seoul Chamber's board consists of 24 members, with Chairman Park concurrently serving as its chairman. The chairman of the Seoul Chamber is elected from among the 24 members, and typically, the chairman of the Seoul Chamber also serves as the chairman of KCCI. It is anticipated that if Chairman Chey is appointed as the chairman of the Seoul Chamber, he will naturally also assume the role of KCCI chairman.

Chairman Park, after recent discussions with senior business figures, has reportedly selected Chairman Chey as the most suitable candidate among the nominees and decided to appoint him unopposed at the board meeting.

If Chairman Chey is appointed as the chairman of the Seoul Chamber, he will be officially elected at the extraordinary general meeting following the regular general meeting scheduled around the 23rd to 24th of next month, and will also take the position of KCCI chairman. Chairman Park's term ends in March.

The business community expresses expectations for a strengthened role of KCCI, noting that none of the previous KCCI chairmen have been heads of the four major conglomerates.

Chairman Chey has recently stated several times his intention to take the lead in fulfilling the new roles society demands from business leaders. At a forum on October 30 last year, he said, "While there is a positive view that our companies have contributed to economic development by growing in size and pursuing profits, it is also true that negative perceptions have been significant," adding, "As a business leader, I am facing reality coldly and feel a great sense of responsibility." This statement was interpreted by the business community as a positive response to the request for him to become KCCI chairman.

A business official said, "As the status of KCCI as a representative economic organization of the business community rises, there is an expectation that communication in various fields will increase once Chairman Chey is appointed as chairman of the chamber."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.