FKI excluded from president's dinner with business lobby groups

By Park Jae-hyuk

The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) was excluded from President Yoon Suk-yeol's closed-door dinner at Cheong Wa Dae last Friday with the heads of the nation's major business lobby groups, according to industry officials, Monday.

Yoon is said to have invited Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won, Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, Korea International Trade Association Chairman Christopher Koo, Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea Chairman Choi Jin-sik and Korea Federation of SMEs Chairman Kim Ki-mun to the meeting.

The presidential office reportedly explained that it decided not to invite the FKI, because the KEF and other organizations also represent the country's business conglomerates.

“We did not receive any call from the presidential office,” an FKI spokesman said. “We do not know the reason for our exclusion from the dinner.”

The spokesman added that FKI Chairman Huh Chang-soo did not have any other appointments at the time of the dinner.

Last month, Yoon also canceled a plan to attend the Seoul Freedom Forum co-hosted by the FKI and the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington.

The president was supposed to deliver a congratulatory speech at the forum, but he reportedly notified abruptly of his intention to be absent from the event, citing the need to mourn the victims of the deadly crowd crush in Itaewon on Oct. 29.

Speculation has therefore been raised that the FKI may fail once again to regain its status as the nation's leading business lobby group.

The FKI's image took a hit after it was revealed in 2016 that the federation was involved in Korean conglomerates giving bribes to Choi Soon-sil, who meddled in state affairs by capitalizing on her friendship with impeached former President Park Geun-hye.

Under the Moon Jae-in government, the FKI has been excluded from presidential meetings with business lobby group heads and Moon's trips abroad. The country's four largest business groups ― Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor and LG ― also left the FKI.

As a result, the KCCI has emerged as the nation's leading business lobby group over the past five years.

After Yoon's election earlier this year, however, the FKI has accelerated efforts for its revival, taking an amicable attitude toward the business-friendly administration. The federation has published statements supporting Yoon's policies throughout this year.

In March, the FKI organized a luncheon with Yoon, who was president-elect at the time, and the nation's six largest business lobby groups. The presidential transition committee reportedly asked the FKI to contact the other business lobby groups for the meeting.

Some business lobby groups were said to have voiced discontent over the fact that the FKI had invited them on behalf of the president-elect.

Amid the lingering controversy over the FKI's status, the KCCI has continued to strengthen its leadership, supporting the government's efforts to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan. The KCCI chairman is leading a civilian committee to support Busan's bid. The chamber also organized a team to promote the nation's second-largest city.

The FKI, however, dismissed the speculation that the president decided to neglect the federation, emphasizing the fact that Yoon participated in the Korea-Indonesia business roundtable in Bali, co-hosted last month by the FKI and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.