Envoys find discussion on labor reform practical
British Ambassador to Korea Simon Smith, center, and Singaporean Ambassador to Korea Yip Wei Kiat, to his left, listen to a speech during the Korea Forum 2019 hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo at the Shilla Seoul, Thursday. Forty representatives of more than 20 diplomatic missions, including 12 ambassadors were invited to the forum. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Yi Whan-woo
Korean Presidents only serve a single, five-year term, so their third year has always been a challenge to either move forward or falter.
In this regard, foreign envoys based in Seoul said they found the theme for this year's Korea Forum very “topical, relevant and actual.”
Hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper Hankook Ilbo, Thursday, the forum at the Shilla Seoul took place under the theme _ “Three hurdles in the third year of the Moon Jae-in presidency _ Labor market reform, policy on big firms and innovation and social values.”
The envoys said they especially found the discussion on labor market reform interesting, pointing out that unemployment and its associated problems have been haunting Korean leaders for years.
President Moon is grappling with the highest unemployment rate in nine years, on top ― on the diplomatic front ― of the aftermath of the Hanoi summit breakdown, which apparently marred his vision for a peace-driven economy.
Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan, left, and Macquarie Group of Companies in Korea Chairman John Walker, second from left, listen to a speech during the Korea Forum 2019. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
“Economic policy is at the center of politics for the Korean government. And the theme is very topical and relevant,” Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan said.
She was among 40 representatives of more than 20 diplomatic missions, including 12 ambassadors, who were invited to the forum.
Singaporean Ambassador to Korea Yip Wei Kiat found the theme “very relevant,” adding Moon, who took office in May 2017, is getting toward the midpoint of his term and that this is what many people are concerned about.
“Personally I'm most interested in labor reform. … This is something about not just the current government but an issue that has been ongoing for some time,” he said.
British Ambassador to Korea Simon Smith said the themes were “very important and actual.”
He said topics related to the labor market were of “direct interest to me,” adding it is the issue that “all governments of developed countries are grappling with.”
“We have an important decision to take on how technologies of the future will impact our societies, and in particular, how we regulate new industries and technologies,” he said. “And I think we have to be brave about that.”
Malaysian Ambassador to Korea Mohd Ashri Muda, right, and Mexican Ambassador to Korea Bruno Figueroa Fischer, second from right, participating in the Korea Forum 2019. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
For Malaysian Ambassador to Korea Mohd Ashri Muda, the Korea Forum 2019 was the first he has attended since arriving here in February and presented his credentials to President Moon in March.
He said he found the forum very positive. “It is very good that you discuss openly and it's very good for everyone to chip in to solve problems.”
From left, Danish Ambassador to Korea Thomas Lehmann, Croatian Ambassador Damir Kusen, Costa Rican Ambassador Rodolfo Solano Quiros and Australian Ambassador James Choi join the Korea Forum 2019. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
The 12 ambassadors included Alfredo Carlos Bascou of Argentina, James Choi of Australia, Rodolfo Solano Quiros of Costa Rica, Damir Kusen of Croatia, Thomas Lehmann of Denmark, Humberto Salazar of the Dominican Republic, Stephan Auer of Germany and Bruno Figueroa Fischer of Mexico.
The Czech Republic, Finland, Georgia, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Ukraine and Vietnam sent embassy officials.