It was suggested that for Korean companies to establish themselves in the U.S. market, they must design operational foundations—such as visas, business site locations, fund management, and local talent recruitment—in tandem with their investments.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AmCham) and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced on the 1st that they jointly held the 8th “U.S. Market Entry Seminar” at the KCCI International Conference Hall in Seoul on the 30th. More than 300 attendees, including South Korean and U.S. government and corporate officials as well as investment experts, discussed cases of Korean companies entering the U.S. market and strategies for expanding local operations.
Participants included Choi Han-do, Head of the Global Business Division at SPC Paris Baguette; Kim Mi-seop, Vice Chairman and Representative Director of Mirae Asset Securities; and Yoo Chang-ho, Head of the Strategy Division at SK Biopharmaceuticals. The panelists shared insights on the backgrounds behind their decisions to enter the U.S. market, challenges encountered during local operations, and the importance of partnerships for stable growth.
In the practical session, visas, real estate, finance, and human resources strategies were discussed as key foundations for U.S.-based operations. Jung Yu-ju, an attorney at immigration law firm Daeyang, pointed out that corporate visas should be considered from the investment decision stage. He stated, “While factories can be built with capital, the success of a business in the U.S. depends on whether suitable personnel can be legally deployed to the site at the necessary time.”
John Fritchard, President of Newmark Korea, proposed that when establishing business hubs within the U.S., companies should consider not only location but also business goals, talent strategies, and supply chain requirements. Kwon Yun-a, Ji (President) of Airwallex, introduced solutions for overseas payments and fund management, while Seo Jae-won, Director at HRCap, presented strategies for local talent recruitment and organizational development.
Investment cases by Korean companies in the U.S. were also mentioned. Todd Young, a U.S. Senator from Indiana, cited in a video message the case of SK Hynix breaking ground on an advanced packaging manufacturing and R&D facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, with an investment of over 4 billion dollars. He explained, “Investments and technology from Korean companies can contribute to job creation and workforce development in the U.S.” and added that “Korea can also play a role in enhancing the productivity and capabilities of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.”
James Kim, Chairman and Representative Director of AmCham, emphasized, “Today’s South Korea-U.S. economic relationship is developing beyond simple trade, centered on investment, technology, innovation, and supply chain resilience.” Kim Jung-il, Senior Vice Chairman of the KCCI, also stated, “To grow stably in the U.S. market, it is important to understand local systems and business environments and to build a trustworthy network.”
in INDUSTRY
