Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
ACRC meets foreign business leaders to boost investments
Ryu Chul-whan, chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), speaks during the ACRC Policy Roundtable with Foreign Businesses held at Government Complex in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of ACRC
By Anna J. Park
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) hosted a policy roundtable on Thursday, inviting executives from foreign chambers of commerce in Korea to help create a more favorable investment environment for foreign companies impacted by the U.S. tariff war and to support the daily lives of foreign businesspeople in Korea.
The forum was also a chance to hear directly from foreign businesses about their concerns and experiences while sharing the government's anti-corruption policies.
The event featured participants from various foreign chambers, including American Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairman James Kim, Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson Marie Antonia von Schönburg, European Chamber of Commerce in Korea President Stephan Ernst, Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea CEO Rowan Petz, French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Sonia Chaïeb and Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairman Roger Loyo.
Ryu Chul-whan, center, chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), stands next to foreign business association leaders during the ACRC Policy Roundtable with Foreign Businesses held at Government Complex in central Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
"With the recent rise in global economic uncertainty following U.S. President Trump's tariff policies, concerns among business leaders are mounting. In response, the ACRC will continue to engage closely with foreign businesses to help foster a clean, transparent and business-friendly environment by supporting improvements in Korea’s foreign investment and international trade landscape," ACRC Chairperson Ryu Chul-whan said.
During the forum, Ryu also highlighted the Korean government's commitment to building a transparent and fair business environment, as shown in its past anti-corruption achievements, including the enforcement of the country's Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, inspections on conflict of interests and more.