Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
INTERVIEW Localization no longer optional: Ex-reporter guides Korean firms in US property market
Sydney Chun, deputy general manager who leads Cushman & Wakefield Korea's cross-border transaction management team / Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield Korea
By Jun Ji-hye
Sydney Chun, a former journalist who worked for SBS CNBC covering macroeconomics and Korea's chaebols, wanted to go beyond reporting to help shape the very deals she once covered.
This led her to join Cushman & Wakefield Korea, the Korean branch of the global real estate services firm. Now, as a deputy general manager leading the firm's cross-border transaction management team, she helps domestic conglomerates turn strategic intent into global real estate execution, especially in the United States, where, she said, "localization is no longer optional."
The team was established in September 2023 to support Korean companies expanding overseas. It provides end-to-end advisories on global site selection, regulatory strategy, incentive negotiations and financial analysis for acquisitions or leases across sectors including IT, biotech, finance and manufacturing.
In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Chun said Korea Inc. is betting big on the U.S. market and pursuing local production. But she noted this is not just about avoiding the Donald Trump administration’s aggressive tariffs — it has become a geopolitical hedge.
"U.S. localization allows Korean firms to mitigate geopolitical and foreign exchange risk, qualify for federal incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act, strengthen investor narratives ahead of IPOs, and build goodwill with U.S. regulators and policymakers," she said. "Every site is a message to Washington, to shareholders and to the global market."
According to Chun, many Korean firms are investing in the U.S. Southeast — particularly Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee — as these states offer attractive incentives, stable labor and pro-business leadership. Korean companies are building ecosystems there, not just factories, creating modern industrial enclaves that signal long-term commitment.
"We're seeing expansion into R&D hubs, data centers and regional headquarters. They want end-to-end control of their global operations," she said. "Global expansion used to be reactive, but now it's preemptive. Decision-making is also becoming cross-functional, encompassing strategy, legal and finance, with real estate teams working in sync. That's when expansion becomes sustainable, not just opportunistic."
Her team has supported Korean conglomerates under global mandates covering Southeast Asia and the Middle East as well as North America.
Recent work includes advising a major Korean automotive group under a global master service agreement and handling industrial transactions in the U.S., lease arrangements in Southeast Asia and new market entries in the Middle East.
The team also helped Korean financial companies set up headquarters in New York, guided auto parts manufacturers in Thailand, and conducted multi-site evaluations for battery projects in the state of Georgia as well as Mexico.
When expanding abroad, Chun said, global advisors like Cushman & Wakefield are helpful, as global expansion is no longer just about "finding space," but also about structuring the right deal in the right jurisdiction with the right stakeholders.
"We bring local execution across more than 400 markets, direct access to government incentive channels, and cross-border alignment between U.S. execution and Korean headquarters strategy," she said.
She added, "My mission is to translate corporate ambition into global execution and to give Korea’s expanding industrial footprint the strategic voice it deserves. Korea is no longer just exporting products. We're exporting presence, influence and intent. That shift requires more than a press release. It calls for a trusted advisor who can connect boardrooms and borders, and make Korea’s story heard where it matters most."