Dr. Jong-Wha Lee, Senior Advisor to President Lee Myung Bak, and G-20 Sherpa in Korea discusses the challenges facing the Korean economy as a result of the global economic crisis. An anemic recovery in the US economy, slower growth in China, unresolved fiscal and financial issues in the Euro Zone, coupled with increased financial and trade linkages, have exposed fault lines in the Korean economy. Dr. Lee will discuss efforts to mitigate Korea’s economic risks and the important policy challenges that lie ahead in creating a foundation for stable growth.

Executive Business Luncheon

Hong-Chul “Hank” Ahn, Commissioner of Invest KOREA, visits The Korea Society to outline the unique opportunities for foreign direct investment in Korea. Mr. Ahn will review the current investment climate, location benefits, promising industries, and high-quality human resources available to the foreign direct investor in Korea, and explain the services Invest KOREA offers to help foreign companies “land softly and successfully” in Korea.

Jaeyong Song, professor at Seoul National University and co-author of the recent Harvard Business Review article, The Paradox of Samsung's Rise, examines the strategic management decisions that led to Samsung's emergence as one of the world's most successful companies from an ordinary original equipment manufacturer just 30 years ago.

Tom Byrne, Moody's Singapore-based senior vice president and regional credit officer for Asia and the Middle East, discusses the credit profile of Korea and other prominent East-Asian governments against the background of rising sovereign-credit stress in advanced countries. He will also provide a focus on South Korea, which Moody’s upgraded to A1 in April 2010. How has Korea’s credit story played out since then, and what are the strengths and risks looking forward?