US-Korea alliance strong despite hurdles, says AmCham chief

AmCham Korea CEO James Kim expressed confidence in South Korea-US economic ties despite near-term challenges, during a Global Business Forum session. Kim said Korea, the sixth-largest US trading partner, is now a top investor in the US, surpassing Taiwan and Japan. He called for Korea to better compete with regional hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong, noting its low number of multinational headquarters. Challenges include Trump-era tariffs, political instability, and regulatory hurdles. Economist Kim Gwang-suk warned of Korea’s vulnerability to US protectionism and urged stronger ties with emerging markets like India. Seoul National University professor Yoo Seong-ho highlighted health care as a key issue in aging Korean society, stressing the value of “well-dying” in discussions on quality of life and longevity.