'Korea's Kala Hills' Yoom Young-hee: "Trade is a core pillar of national strategy... I see a bright future for Korea's trade"

26 Years of Public Service in Trade Out of 29 Years
"Korean Trade Faces New Challenges... Must Pioneer Uncharted Paths with Broad Vision and Insight to Read the Future"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] 'Korea's Carla Hills', 'Korea's top female trade expert', 'the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's first female section chief, director, grade 1 official, and chief trade negotiator', ...

These are titles that always follow Yoo Myung-hee, Chief of the Trade Negotiations Headquarters at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Yoo, Korea's top female trade expert and the creator of many 'first female' titles at the ministry, has put a full stop on her 29-year public service career. Dreaming of a 'trade powerhouse,' she spent 26 of her 29 years in public service walking the 'trade path.' She said, "Trade is evolving beyond traditional market opening negotiations to become a core pillar of national strategy, intertwined with technology, industry, security, and social issues," urging her juniors to have a broad perspective and insight to read future trends.

At her farewell ceremony held on the afternoon of the 6th at the Government Complex Sejong, Chief Yoo emphasized, "Korea's trade is now facing new challenges."

She stated, "Countries are pursuing foreign policies prioritizing their own interests, asserting national sovereignty to secure technological hegemony, challenging the international order based on openness and norms," and added, "We must prepare for a paradigm shift toward a new order." She continued, "The turbulent international situation returning to us is both a crisis and an opportunity," urging, "With broad vision and insight to read future trends, we must pioneer uncharted paths that determine the nation's fate."

She also expressed affection and gratitude to the juniors who ran together toward the dream of a 'trade powerhouse.' Yoo recalled, "Despite the turbulent and severe times with Japan's export restrictions and the U.S. Section 232 measures, many achievements were possible because of your shared concerns and efforts," and said, "Industry and trade united wisely to respond to export restrictions and completed the New Southern FTA."

Reflecting on last year's World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General election campaign, she said, "We conducted fierce trade diplomacy targeting 163 countries, showcasing our enhanced capabilities to the world," and expressed gratitude to all the negotiation headquarters staff who gave their utmost efforts. She added, "While fiercely campaigning with young juniors for the WTO election, I saw a bright future for Korea's trade," emphasizing, "I believe the juniors will advance globally, elevate the nation's status, and play a role in opening a new international order."

Chief Yoo is Korea's top female trade expert who carried the 'first female' titles at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Born in 1967, she graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in English Literature and entered public service through the 35th Administrative Examination. She began her career at the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs and moved to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (formerly the Ministry of Trade and Industry) in 1995. As the first female trade expert selected by the ministry at that time, she successively became the ministry's first female section chief, first female director, and first female grade 1 official, breaking the strong 'glass ceiling' in the ministry's traditionally male-centered organizational culture.

In 2019, she was appointed as the Chief of the Trade Negotiations Headquarters, a position treated at the ministerial level externally, and based on President Moon Jae-in's absolute trust and support, she became the third Korean candidate for WTO Director-General last year.

Yoo's successor is Yeo Han-gu, Secretary for New Southern and New Northern Policies at the Blue House.

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