New FKI head to make first overseas trip to Poland

The head of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) Ryu Roy Jin. [Courtesy of Poongsan]

Newly appointed head of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) Ryu Roy Jin has chosen Poland as the destination for his first overseas trip, during which he will promote the competitiveness of South Korea’s defense, infrastructure, nuclear power, and energy industries.

According to sources on Monday, Ryu is scheduled to attend the Krynica Forum, which will take place in Poland from September 13-15 (local time) in his first overseas trip since being appointed as the chairman of the business lobby of the country’s largest companies on August 22. The Krynica Forum’s public-private partnership mission is organized by the All-China Federation.

The Krynica Forum is an international conference which counts Polish President Andrzej Duda as an honorary patron and presents opportunities for expanding cooperation between South Korea and Poland, particularly in the fields of defense, infrastructure, and nuclear energy. Ryu also serves as the CEO of the Korean defense company Poongsan Corporation.

The event will also include a South Korea-Poland Forum, the sole forum of its kind, where various aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries will be addressed.

Earlier in July, the FKI organized the South Korea-Poland Business Forum at the Westin Hotel in Warsaw, Poland. Key areas of cooperation between South Korea and Poland include strengthening collaboration in energy, plant construction, and defense, expanding cooperation in the reconstruction of Ukrainian infrastructure, and jointly entering third-party markets.

Kim Bong-man, head of International Affairs Division of the FKI, expressed optimism about the enhanced cooperation between South Korean and Polish companies, saying, “The cooperation between our companies and Poland is expected to become even more vibrant. It is particularly worth noting that Poland is being mentioned as a possible hub for Ukraine reconstruction.”

Following his visit to Poland, Ryu is planning to travel to the United States and Japan later in the year. The 35th Korea-U.S. Business Council meeting will take place in Washington, D.C.

The Korea-U.S. Business Council is a private-sector economic cooperation platform jointly hosted by the FKI and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Ryu serves as the chairman of the South Korean delegation.