South Korea and Japan’s top business lobbies met Monday to advance cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and other strategic industries, signaling deeper private-sector engagement between the two tech-driven economies. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) held their annual conference on Jeju Island, outlining joint priorities aimed at reinforcing economic resilience and addressing shared social challenges.
The meeting comes as shuttle diplomacy between the two governments gains momentum, with leaders of both countries holding five summits in recent months. Chey Tae-won, SK Group chairman and head of the KCCI, said the renewed diplomatic engagement is creating “a stronger foundation for cooperation” at a time when both nations face escalating competition in advanced technologies.
“Externally, we must respond to rapid changes in the global business environment, especially competition in cutting-edge technology,” Chey said, according to the KCCI. “Internally, low birth rates, an aging population and regional decline pose major challenges. These uncertainties can be better addressed together.”
Chey proposed joint initiatives ranging from coordinated energy procurement to shared medical systems as both nations confront demographic pressure. Japan’s JCCI Chairman Ken Kobayashi supported the call for deeper collaboration, emphasizing that the two countries should focus on “building a cooperative relationship rather than a competitive one,” particularly in sectors essential to future economic growth.
A joint statement issued after the meeting underscored plans to strengthen supply-chain coordination for AI, semiconductors and energy—areas where both nations hold critical capabilities but also face mounting geopolitical risks. The two organizations pledged to help maintain an open global economic system and work toward creating a more stable investment environment.
Population decline—a pressing long-term issue for both countries—was also designated as a priority. The groups agreed to explore practical, private-sector-led solutions, including sharing policy research and demographic strategies.
With travel between South Korea and Japan rising, the lobbies also committed to expanding economic, tourism and cultural exchanges to reinforce the broader recovery in bilateral ties.
