KCCI, FKI chiefs meet to discuss cooperation

Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), met with the newly appointed chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) on Friday.

Ryu Jin, left, the newly appointed chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, poses for photo with Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Friday during their meeting in central Seoul. [KCCI]

Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), met with the newly appointed chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) on Friday.

Ryu Jin, who was named the FKI chief on Tuesday, met with Chey at the KCCI headquarters in central Seoul. Ryu is also the chairman of Poongsan Group.

The two heads of the business lobbying groups discussed possible cooperation, as well as the ongoing campaign to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan.

Chey, who co-chairs the World Expo 2030 Busan Bid Committee, requested Ryu for his support and help with the bidding efforts, to which Ryu responded by saying that “the FKI will also do our best to bring in the World Expo.”

Ryu has also met with other chiefs of Korean lobbying groups, including the Korea Enterprises Federation chief Sohn Kyung-shik and Korea International Trade Association Chairman Koo Ja-yeol, since his appointment.

On Tuesday, the FKI appointed Ryu as its new head while pledging to transform itself into a global think tank, distancing itself from the lobbying role that it was largely criticized for in the past.

Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor and LG, which withdrew from the FKI in 2017 after a corruption scandal during the Park Geun-hye administration, have recently decided to rejoin the organization.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]