Yoon Tae-sik, Commissioner of Korea Customs Service, Calls for KCW to Become Korea's Version of the 'Davos Forum'

"We will ensure that KCW establishes itself as the Korean version of the 'Davos Forum' in the customs sector." This is the ambition expressed by Yoon Tae-sik, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service (photo), in line with the hosting of Korea Customs Week 2023 (hereinafter KCW 2023).

Yoon Tae-sik, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service. Photo by Korea Customs Service

KCW 2023 is a global customs cooperation conference held from the 26th to the 27th at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, attended by heads of customs authorities from 78 countries.

This marks the record for the highest number of customs authority heads attending a global conference hosted by a single customs authority.

It also highlights the stature of Korea's customs technology, systems, and administration content as viewed by the international community.

Above all, as the host country of KCW 2023, Korea is expected to lead global customs cooperation and gain practical benefits by resolving overseas customs clearance difficulties faced by domestic export companies.

Commissioner Yoon stated, "KCW 2023 was organized with the purpose of creating a 'trade-friendly and safe global economy' based on solidarity and cooperation within the international community," adding, "Behind this, as the host country of KCW 2023, Korea will establish a foundation to resolve the recently increased non-tariff barriers and provide domestic companies with broader trade opportunities."

Non-tariff barriers are a type of regulation where governments discriminate against foreign goods by means other than tariffs. Commissioner Yoon anticipates that KCW 2023 will contribute to dismantling some of the non-tariff barriers imposed by countries worldwide during the trade processes of domestic companies.

To this end, the Korea Customs Service will support 'Business Meetings' at KCW 2023, where representatives from 28 domestic companies and customs authorities from 24 countries can meet for one-on-one discussions.

During these business meetings, companies can mutually share difficulties encountered in local customs clearance processes with counterpart customs authorities and build networks with customs officials. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to obtain customs information from counterpart countries (newly entered markets) that is difficult to access domestically.

Commissioner Yoon also emphasizes that "KCW 2023 is a gathering of an unprecedented number of customs authority heads from many countries."

Beyond this significance, he appeals that KCW 2023 will serve as a platform for the international community to strengthen cooperation in cracking down on illegal and harmful goods such as drugs and firearms, and to build consensus on supporting export revitalization through the removal of overseas non-tariff barriers.

From a long-term perspective, Commissioner Yoon places importance on ensuring that KCW 2023 does not remain a one-off event but continues as a global customs cooperation conference.

"I hope KCW will continue as a forum where key stakeholders in the customs sector?including customs authorities, private companies, and academia?gather to discuss the present and future of global customs administration," said Commissioner Yoon. "As a type of global customs cooperation conference, we will strive to make KCW the Korean version of the 'Davos Forum' in the customs field."

Meanwhile, the Davos Forum is an international private conference (foundation) established in 1971 to discuss global economic issues and is still held annually in Davos, eastern Switzerland.

The Davos Forum continues its legacy with participation from current and former presidents and prime ministers, economic ministers, central bank governors, heads of multinational corporations, and intellectuals from around the world.

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