KITA, Japan's Keizai Doyukai map out Korea-Japan economic cooperation for AI era

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) held the 6th Korea-Japan Economic Roundtable jointly with Japan's Keizai Doyukai at Trade Tower in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Friday.

The Korea-Japan Economic Roundtable is an official cooperation channel established to strengthen private-sector collaboration and networking between business leaders from the two countries. KITA's Special Committee on Korea-Japan Exchange — launched in February 2024 — and its Japanese counterpart, the Keizai Doyukai, set it up jointly. The forum has been held twice a year, alternating between Korea and Japan, since its inaugural session in Tokyo in May 2024.

About 30 business figures from both countries attended Friday's meeting, including Kim Nam-jung, vice chairman of the Special Committee on Korea-Japan Exchange and chairman of Dongwon Group, and Honma Masahiko and Muta Masaaki, co-chairs of the Keizai Doyukai's Korea Committee — lead partner at Incubate Fund and president of Transcosmos, respectively.

The roundtable was held under the theme "Advancing Korea-Japan Economic Cooperation and Global Trade Solidarity in the AI Era." Discussions centered on identifying future growth engines by leveraging each country's industrial strengths and on deepening economic security cooperation.

In the first session, Lee Ji-pyeong, a special professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Nozaki Hiroki, CEO of Zen Intelligence, presented on the industrial application of physical AI and robotics technologies and avenues for Korea-Japan cooperation. Participants explored manufacturing innovation and new business opportunities based on the complementary strengths of the two countries — Korea's AI and semiconductor technology on one side, and Japan's robotics and precision manufacturing capabilities on the other.

The second session featured presentations by Jang Sang-sik, head of KITA's Institute for International Trade, and Terada Takashi, a professor of political science at Doshisha University, on strategies for Korea-Japan economic security cooperation in response to the spread of protectionism and the restructuring of global supply chains. Participants then discussed concrete cooperation measures, including stabilizing AI supply chains in semiconductors and key materials and jointly entering third-country markets.

KITA President Yoon Jin-sik said the Korea-Japan Economic Roundtable has grown into a practical cooperation channel for the business communities of both countries. "I look forward to continuing to produce tangible results that companies in both countries can feel in the areas of AI and economic security," Yoon said.

Meanwhile, KITA recently held the "2026 Strategy Seminar for Entering Major US Retail Networks" at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The seminar was organized to help Korean consumer goods companies break into the US market by introducing strategies for gaining entry to Walmart — the largest brick-and-mortar retailer in the United States — and its subsidiary Sam's Club. About 200 representatives from Korean companies in the beauty, personal care and wellness sectors hoping to expand into the US market attended the event.