What did KCCI chairman Chey Tae-won say about Korea-Japan economic ties in Sendai?

Chey said closer economic cooperation is needed because Korea and Japan share many similarities. He said their industrial structures, markets and technologies overlap in ways that make them natural partners for expanding each other’s markets.

What cooperation ideas did Chey Tae-won propose with Japan?

Chey suggested a pilot program that would let people travel between the two countries without passports. He also called for helping startups in both countries grow faster through cross-border investment and for sharing artificial intelligence data to help shape global standards.

Why did Chey Tae-won say Korea and Japan should work more closely together now?

He said both countries face a rapidly changing global economic environment and need to build a larger market and industrial ecosystem together. Chey described that approach as economic solidarity between Korea and Japan.

Korea's biz lobby group chief calls for stronger economic ties with Japan

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Summary

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Chey Tae-won called for stronger economic cooperation with Japan in Sendai, Japan, on Monday. He said the two countries share similar industrial structures, markets and technologies, and can help each other expand their markets. Chey also proposed cooperation on passport-free travel, startup investment and sharing artificial intelligence data to help shape global standards.

Key Facts

Chey Tae-won made the remarks in his opening speech at a meeting with his Japanese counterpart in Sendai, Japan.
He said Korea and Japan face a rapidly changing global economic environment.
Chey said the strengths of one country can make up for the weaknesses of the other.
He suggested a pilot program for travel between the two countries without passports, startup investment from the other country, and sharing artificial intelligence data to help shape global standards.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 31, 2026 3:17 pm KST

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won delivers an opening speech for the 15th Korea-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive committee meeting in Sendai, Japan, Thursday. Yonhap

The head of Korea's major business lobby group on Monday stressed the need for closer economic cooperation with Japan, saying the two countries share many similarities and can serve as partners in expanding each other's markets.

Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), made the remarks in his opening speech at a meeting with his Japanese counterpart held in Sendai, Japan.

Chey said such efforts are crucial as Korea and Japan face a rapidly changing global economic environment and share similarities.

"Korea and Japan have many similarities in terms of their industrial structures, markets and technologies," Chey said. "The strengths of one country can make up for the weaknesses of the other."

Chey, who also heads Korea's SK Group which includes chipmaker SK hynix Inc., emphasized the importance of jointly building a larger market and industrial ecosystem.

"That is what I consider economic solidarity between Korea and Japan," he said.

The KCCI chief also suggested several areas for cooperation, including launching a pilot program allowing people to travel between the two countries without passports, helping startups in both countries achieve rapid growth through investment from the other country and sharing artificial intelligence data to help shape global standards.

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