Date and Time
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
12–1:30 p.m. MST
Location
Lobby Training Room
World Trade Center Utah
The heart and Seoul of innovation
Did you know around 37% of overseas South Korean start-ups operate in North America? Utah and South Korea both boast vibrant innovation ecosystems, driven in part by the strong performance of their aerospace and defense, manufacturing, and life sciences sectors.
Additionally, in 1962, the Republic of Korea established the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting and supporting U.S. companies in doing business with Korean companies. For Utah businesses looking to embark on new ventures in this dynamic region, South Korea offers a conducive environment to thrive.
Ahead of the Governor’s upcoming trade mission to South Korea and Japan, we welcomed Consul General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco Lim Jung-taek for an in-person luncheon on July 2. “Korea and Utah share many similar interests in their dynamic development,” said Consul General Jung-taek in his remarks. “I believe there is significant potential for discovering more common interests and strengthening cooperation.”
Keunhyung Park, director general of the KOTRA Los Angeles office, also spoke to attendees about South Korea’s economy, business climate, and leading industries.
This event was hosted in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Salt Lake Chamber.
Consul General Lim Jung-taek
Lim Jung-taek joined the Korean Consulate General in San Francisco in January 2024. Prior to his appointment, he served as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of Ghana beginning in 2020.
Previously, Jung-taek held a variety of other diplomatic positions, including that of the director-general for International Administrative Cooperation at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (2018) and deputy director-general for International Organizations at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2016). He also served as minister-counsellor at the Korean Permanent Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in France beginning in 2014.
Lim Jung-taek has a B.A. in economics from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea as well as an M.A. in international studies from the University of Connecticut.
Director general Keunhyung Park
Keunhyung Park is the director general of the KOTRA Los Angeles office. He was born in Seoul, Korea in 1967. Joining KOTRA in 1996, he has accrued over 28 years of diverse experience within the organization. His distinguished career includes key postings in several international offices, such as Toronto, Hanoi, London, and Bangalore.
Most recently, Mr. Park served as the director general at KOTRA’s headquarters in Seoul, where he was responsible for supporting Korean start-ups and promote job creation for Koreans overseas.
Mr. Park has Ph.D. in business administration from Dankuk University, Korea and Master of Science in tech. management from SUNY Stony Brook, United States. He is also a dedicated family man, residing with his wife, son and daughter.
Crossroads of the World
Join us as we bring together global influencers at our in-person roundtable discussions with top government and business leaders from around the world. Be a part of meaningful conversations and make valuable connections that will expand your perspective and knowledge of the global marketplace. These roundtables are designed for the ambitious and forward-thinking individual who wants to stay ahead of the curve in the world of international trade.
In partnership with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Salt Lake Chamber.
