Sakong invited to Merkel's forum

Sakong Il

By Kim Rahn

Institute for Global Economics Chairman Sakong Il will participate in a forum presided over by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The institute said Sunday that Sakong will leave for Berlin after being personally invited to the inaugural International German Forum to be held Wednesday.

Chancellor Merkel is to launch the forum to discuss major global social, economic and political issues, such as quality of life, discrimination and poverty, to contribute to a better future of the world.

Under the theme “What Matters to People ― Wellbeing and Progress,” renowned scholars will attend the forum including Nobel laureate professors Amartya Sen of Harvard University and Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia University.

Sakong is the only Korean participant.

“It is a small-sized forum held at the chancellor’s residence. Sakong will give advice on those issues to Merkel along with other experts,” an official of the institute said.

Sakong has held various government posts in the economy sector, including finance minister; economic advisor to former presidents Kim Dae-jung and Lee Myung-bak; chairman of the presidential committee on national competitiveness; and chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA). He is also currently honorary chairman of KITA.