Gu Ja-yeol, Chairman of Muhyeop, Requests Priority Vaccination for Business Travelers Abroad

On the 10th, Proposal to the Government at the Public-Private Joint Export Leap Hope Concert

Koo Ja-yeol, Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (front row, right), is talking with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun before attending the "Hope Concert for the Era of $700 Billion Exports Together" held at COEX, Samseong-dong, Seoul on the 10th.
[Photo by Korea International Trade Association]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Koo Ja-yeol, Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), requested the government to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for businesspeople who frequently travel abroad for business purposes.

According to KITA on the 10th, Chairman Koo made these remarks at the 'Hope Concert for the Era of $700 Billion Exports Together,' a public-private joint event held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, as part of the expanded trade strategy coordination meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.

Chairman Koo said, "Vaccinations have started domestically, and we expect overseas business trips by businesspeople to become more active in the second half of the year," but added, "As some major countries are likely to require vaccination certificates, we ask for consideration so that businesspeople who must travel abroad can receive vaccinations on a priority basis."

He stated, "COVID-19 is changing the way people live, the industrial landscape, and international relations, and these changes will never revert even after the pandemic ends," adding, "In this era of great transformation, KITA will work with the government, related organizations, and the trade industry to enable our companies to play a leading role in the global market through product and marketing innovation and digital transformation."

The event was conducted in a talk concert format where innovative companies and future trade professionals shared their on-site voices, and the Prime Minister, KITA Chairman, and officials from related ministries responded. Businesspeople who found it difficult to attend in person due to COVID-19 and students from the Global Trade Expert Program (GTEP) participated via video connection and online open chat rooms to express various opinions.

GTEP students asked Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, a former general trading company executive, and Chairman Koo about the qualities required as trade professionals, youth employment, and the competencies needed to prepare for competition with artificial intelligence (AI). Chairman Koo said, "The type of talent companies seek is changing to respond to an uncertain future," adding, "Unlike AI, which finds optimal solutions within given data environments, humans must explore new ideas and problem-solving methods with infinite potential, creativity, strong motivation, and curiosity."

Meanwhile, KITA also held an exhibition of products that won innovation awards at the 2021 world's largest home appliance and IT exhibition (CES) at the Starfield Library in COEX on the same day. Products from nine domestic startups will be showcased until the 12th.

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