The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran

  • 3

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'

  • 5

    4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey

  • 7

    Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data

  • 9

    All BTS members renew contract with BigHit

  • 11

    K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action

  • 13

    Deoksu Palace's reconstructed Dondeokjeon hall to open to public

  • 15

    Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts

  • 17

    Hyundai Steel decides to form steel pipe unit

  • 19

    SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea

  • 2

    Actor Song Joong-ki still hungry for new movie roles

  • 4

    Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z

  • 6

    S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul

  • 8

    PHOTOSHarvest season arrives

  • 10

    Korean tennis player Kwon Soon-woo eliminated in 2nd round at Hangzhou Asiad

  • 12

    Serial killer transferred to detention center in Seoul equipped with execution chamber

  • 14

    Over half of Koreans want continuous strengthening of alliance with US: poll

  • 16

    LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system

  • 18

    EXCLUSIVELawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees

  • 20

    Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Wed, September 27, 2023 | 04:33
G20 in Seoul
Biz summit to become integral part of G20 process
Posted : 2010-08-22 17:46
Updated : 2010-08-22 17:46
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link

Song Kyung-jin, special adviser to Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit Chairman Sakong Il, talks to The Korea Times about the G20 preparations at the committee office in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, on Aug. 17.
/ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia

The upcoming G20 Summit is a significant opportunity for Korea to play a major role in determining the direction of the global economy.

``The G20 Summit is very significant because we (Korea) are now part of the major global economic governance group which will provide direction and vision for the global economy,’’ Song Kyung-jin, special adviser to the Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit Chairman Sakong Il, told The Korea Times, at a coffee shop near her office in Samcheong-dong, last week.

Song, who has been described by Sakong as the person who is most knowledgeable about details regarding the summit, said the G20 has an important role in leading the world economy at this critical juncture.

While there are skeptics who question the effectiveness of the G20 process, Song said there is no doubt that world leaders’ efforts at the summits in Washington, London, Pittsburgh and Toronto in the last two years have contributed to the stabilization of the global economy.

``Leading experts and economists are saying they don’t think there would be a double dip recession... The world is still recovering, there's no question about it. But the speed of recovery differs from country to country,’’ she said.

Song is right is in the middle of preparations for the G20 Seoul Summit, the first time a non-G7 member state and an Asian country is at the helm of the summit.

One of the unique aspects of the event is the G20 Seoul Business Summit, which will bring together the world’s most prominent and influential businessmen in November. While a business summit was held in Toronto, Song said Seoul Business Summit is much more substantial and includes over 100 prominent businessmen from both G20 and non-G20 countries.

``Our idea is to make this (G20 Seoul Business Summit) an integral part of the whole G20 process. We would like to have specific themes on trade and investment, finance, green growth, and corporate social responsibility... The CEOs will be the conveners at the summit and that’s why they're so intrigued by this. The CEOs themselves will be speaking, not someone else,’’ Song said.

There is a high possibility this business summit would eventually be continued by future G20 Summit host countries. ``The next G20 host country, France, has given good feedback, so there is a good possibility it will be continued. And Mexico, there is a high chance that this business summit would be part of the G20 summit process,’’ she said.

Song has been part of the G20 Summit preparations from the very beginning, having been appointed as counselor to Sakong, who was then the head of the G20 Summit Korea Coordinating Committee in 2009.

``It’s very challenging,’’ Song said about working with Sakong, a former finance minister and veteran economist. ``But it’s great because you can get a lot of exposure to meeting various influential policymakers from different countries. You can actually feel like you're in the middle of something that's shaping the new global economic governance. Without doubt he's very demanding but it cannot compare to what you can learn from working with him.”

Song’s experience in dealing with international labor issues while working for the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions in the early 2000s have served her well for her current job.

``The world was quickly changing with the emergence of China and emerging markets. I was a bit sad that Korea was not a part of the discussions and dynamic change in the global power structure. So I decided to come back to Korea and do something for the country... That experience has transformed me into adjusting to the G20 issues. I've been lucky to be part of the G20 discussions from the very beginning,’’ she said.

Song is familiar with dealing with the media, since she worked as the foreign press spokesperson at the Ministry of Finance from 2004 to 2008. But she admits not being too comfortable talking about herself. ``I don’t know what to say,” she said, with a laugh.

It is obvious Song prefers to work behind the scenes instead. A typical day starts at 7:30 a.m. at her office in Samcheong-dong, where she checks the always full email inbox, not just her own, but Sakong’s as well. Then she scans the domestic and international newspapers for the day’s most pressing issues and current events.

``Dr. Sakong would say that without reading the international papers, there's something missing from his day. I like to emulate him,’’ she said.

Being a woman climbing up the ranks of the Korean government is no easy feat. While gender equality is a hot issue these days, Song is fully aware that Korean society has a long way to go to achieve this.

Speaking from her own experience, Song believes women should do their best in the workplace and not be afraid of standing up for themselves, especially if they believe they are right.

``You have to put in 200 percent effort, a lot more than your male counterparts. You have to be strong and aggressive. If you do, some people may not appreciate it but you should not be dissuaded. Sometimes you get some criticisms just because you are a woman trying very hard. But you have to be good at your job, that’s the bottom line,” she said.

Who is Song Kyung-jin?

Prior to joining the Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit, Song Kyung-jin was counselor to Sakong Il, chairman of the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness, from 2008 to 2009. She also served as the foreign press spokeswoman at the Ministry of Finance and Economy from 2004 to 2008.

Song worked for the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions ― Asian and Pacific Regional Organization from 1999 to 2004, and the Korea International Labor Foundation from 1997 to 1999.

Song obtained a doctorate in Communications Studies from University of Kansas and a master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Boston University. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
Emailcathy@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul
2Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data
3For closer business ties between Korea, Vietnam For closer business ties between Korea, Vietnam
4Seoul Welcome Week to return for first time since pandemicSeoul Welcome Week to return for first time since pandemic
5Gov't to boost Korean language education for multiethnic students Gov't to boost Korean language education for multiethnic students
6POSCO International to enter US grain market POSCO International to enter US grain market
7BOK warns of worsening household debt situation BOK warns of worsening household debt situation
8Late Samsung chairman's love of animals helps change Korea's pet culture Late Samsung chairman's love of animals helps change Korea's pet culture
9SK Telecom to triple AI investment over next 5 years SK Telecom to triple AI investment over next 5 years
10Biden will try to 'manage' NK nuclear issue, not resolve it: US expert Biden will try to 'manage' NK nuclear issue, not resolve it: US expert
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
2Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love
3Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene
4K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
5BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D' BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group