AI to take center stage at KCCI forum
Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won delivers an opening speech during the 47th KCCI Jeju Forum at the Shilla Jeju, Wednesday. Courtesy of KCCI
SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Around 600 businesspeople from conglomerates and small- and medium-sized enterprises nationwide came to the southern resort island of Jeju, Wednesday, to attend the 47th Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Jeju Forum.
Participants at the four-day annual event included KCCI and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Samsung Electronics President Park Seung-hee, SK Communication Committee President Lee Hyung-hee, Hana Bank CEO Lee Seung-lyul, Samchully CEO Lee Chan-eui, Sambo Motors CEO Lee Jae-ha and LSC Food CEO Chung Ki-ok.
"It feels like we're in a jungle these days," Chey said in his opening remarks on the first day of the forum. "We cannot talk about technologies without mentioning artificial intelligence (AI), so we need countermeasures against this situation."
The KCCI chairman, however, expressed optimism about Korean businesspeople overcoming economic and political uncertainties once again.
Following Chey’s opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok delivered a lecture on the government’s plans to cope with the economic situation during the second half of this year, as well as its Dynamic Economy roadmap.
"Amid the growing importance of economic security, the government has no choice but to team up with businesses," Choi said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok delivers a lecture on the government's economic policies during the 47th Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Jeju Forum at the Shilla Jeju, Wednesday. Courtesy of KCCI
The KCCI will also provide various lectures on AI during the later days of the event.
In particular, the highlight of this year’s forum will be a chat between the KCCI chairman and Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon to answer part of the public’s 1,750 questions on AI, including those about how AI will change workplaces, whether their companies formed partnerships with U.S. Big Tech and how smartphones will evolve with AI.
Considering the great interest in AI, the KCCI decided to livestream the talk via YouTube at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Before the talk, Science and ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho will introduce the government’s plans to support AI and semiconductor industries. Kim Ee-eul, CEO of Satrec Initiative, an AI-powered satellite maker, will also deliver a lecture on the era of “new space,” which refers to private-led space exploration.
On Saturday, Supertone CEO Lee Kyo-gu will talk about the potential use of generative AI in music and related industries. Film Director Kim Tae-yong of “Memento Mori,” “Family Ties” and “Late Autumn” will also speak about the culture industry in the AI era on the last day of the forum.
“This year’s Jeju Forum will not only give insights and refreshment to participants, but also allow them to learn about the future keyword of AI,” KCCI Executive Vice Chairman Park Il-joon said.
Other speakers of the forum are Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun, TBWA Korea’s Corporate Culture Lab head Park Woong-hyun and Maeil Dairies CEO Kim Seon-hee.
Despite the scorching heat, participants at the event will also collect waste from beaches to fulfill their corporate responsibilities. PET bottles used at the forum will be recycled as eco-friendly materials, according to KCCI.