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[Webinar] Economic Impact of COVID-19 on U.S.-Korea Relations

April 3, 2020 - The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) hosted a webinar on April 3 with the theme “The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on U.S.-Korea Relations.” The guest presenters were Troy Stangarone, Senior Director and Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), and Kyle Ferrier, Director of Academic Affairs and Fellow at KEI.  About the SpeakerTroy Stangarone, Senior Director and Fellow, Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI)Troy Stangarone is Senior Director and Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI). He oversees KEI’s trade and economic related initiatives, as well as the Institute’s relations with Capitol Hill and the Washington, DC trade community. As part of his broader portfolio he serves as the editor for KEI’s flagship publication, Korea’s Economy, and oversees KEI’s blog, The Peninsula. Mr. Stangarone has written extensively and has been widely quoted on U.S.-Korea relations, South Korean trade and foreign policy, and North Korea. His work has appeared in publications such as Foreign Policy, CNBC, CNN, China-US Focus, the JoongAng Ilbo, and the Korea Herald. His comments have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, CNN, Politico, Chosun Ilbo, Donga Ilbo, JoongAng Daily, and Yonhap News Service. He has also appeared on TV and radio for outlets such as Bloomberg News, CNBC Asia, and BBC Radio. In addition to his work at KEI, Mr. Stangarone is a member of the George Mason University | Korea President’s Advisory Board, the International Council of Korean Studies Board, and the Korea-America Student Conference’s National Advisory Committee. He is a columnist for the Korea Times and a regular contributor to The Diplomat. He was also a 2012-2013 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in South Korea, sponsored by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.  Prior to joining KEI, Mr. Stangarone worked on Capitol Hill for Senator Robert Torricelli on issues relating to foreign affairs and trade. He also served as an aide to Governor James McGreevey of New Jersey. He holds a MSc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Memphis.Kyle Ferrier, Director of Academic Affairs and Fellow, Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI)Kyle Ferrier joined KEI as Fellow and Director of Academic Affairs in 2015. He is charged with managing KEI’s efforts to foster collaboration between the academic and policy communities. As part of his responsibilities, Mr. Ferrier is editor of KEI’s On Korea and Joint U.S.-Korea Academic Studies publications, working with editor-in-chief Gilbert Rozman on the latter. He also oversees KEI’s university programs, which reach hundreds of college students in the United States each year through organized lectures on timely Korea-related issues as well as a simulation on multilateral negotiations with North Korea. Mr. Ferrier writes on U.S.-Korea relations, South Korean foreign affairs, South Korean domestic and international economic policy, and the political economy of the Asia-Pacific. He has been quoted in numerous media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and U.S. News & World Report, and is a regular contributor to KEI’s blog, The Peninsula, and The Diplomat. Prior to joining KEI, Mr. Ferrier worked for the Bank of New York Mellon and was a Program Assistant in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration at the U.S. State Department. He was also a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant for the 2011-2012 grant year in Naju, South Korea. During his time in Korea, he led his students in a U.S. embassy-sponsored youth diplomacy program in Seoul, volunteered with North Korean escapees, and completed a Korean language course at Seogang University. He has held internships at the Korea Institute for National Unification, U.S. State Department, U.S. Department of Commerce, and with Senator Charles Schumer at the height of the 2008 financial crisis. Mr. Ferrier holds an MSc in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics and a B.A. in Economics and Government and International Politics from George Mason University.  Webinar BriefTo mark the launch of the AMCHAM Korea Webinar Series, Mr. Troy Stangarone, Senior Director and Fellow, and Mr. Kyle Ferrier, Director of Academic Affairs and Fellow, at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), have shared their insights on the economic impact of COVID-19 on U.S.-Korea Relations. KEI is a premier U.S. think tank and public outreach organization solely dedicated to helping Americans understand the breadth and importance of the U.S.-Korea relations. This AMCHAM Webinar session on Zoom will be highly informative and interactive, where participants can not only hear from but also ask questions to these experts in Washington, D.C. Comparing the economic situation of Korea and the world in previous financial crisis to the situation today, Director Ferrier noted, "Korea is in much better shape than when it was in '97-'98, and now what's most important for the U.S. and South Korea is to build upon our bilateral relationship and expand to multilateral cooperation. Korea is actually in a strong position and it should try to help other countries really face the threat that coronavirus poses on a more equal ground." Noting that the travel and tourism was one of the industries hardest hit by the crisis, Senior Director Stangarone remarked, "It is going to take significant government intervention to revive the tourism and travel industry. Unless there are sort of common global standards backed by all the governments, people are going to be leery to travel." “AMCHAM is actively participating in social distancing under the strict goal of preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Given the circumstances, it is meaningful that we can promote communication and exchange of opinions using creative digital platforms such as this webinar series,” said AMCHAM Chairman & CEO James Kim. “Discussing the future of Korea’s economy via these webinars will allow for a faster recovery.” AMCHAM planned this webinar series to address major issues in the global business economy while encouraging social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. About 200 people attended the webinar online.Full Details Please refer to the following link for full content access on AMCHAM webinar:https://youtu.be/c67DC_OnED4? 

2020.04.03

[News Article - OPED] [Contribution] In confronting COVID-19, US and Korea are stronger together

 James Kim, Chairman and CEO, AMCHAM Korea [The Korea Herald]  A crisis always reveals a nation’s true character and strength. In the case of their response to the emergency caused by COVID-19, the people and government of the South Korea won praise from around the world for their collective resilience and collaboration.  As the first country outside of China to face a major outbreak of COVID-19, Korea’s response was rapid, smart and effective. Through innovative drive-thru testing, rapid diagnosis and transparent information sharing, Korea has shown the world that it is possible for a democratic country to effectively fight the spread of the virus. Korea has also proven itself to be a model global citizen by implementing a unique system of three-point temperature checks of outgoing travelers at airports, so that no major outbreaks outside of Korea to date have been linked to the country. Other impacted countries including the US are taking note of this and benchmarking Korea’s tactful solutions. As a result, a challenge that could have been one of Korea’s darkest moments is instead turning out to be the nation’s finest hour. As Chairman & CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, I can attest that for American businesses operating in Korea, this outcome is welcome but not unexpected. American businesses know more than anyone that Koreans are second to none when it comes to tenacity, intelligence and innovation. The national character revealed in the COVID-19 emergency is the same that enabled Korea to rise from the ashes of war and to emerge as a high-tech economic powerhouse. It is the reason so many American companies have chosen to do business in Korea. AMCHAM’s member companies and affiliates employed 460,000 workers in Korea and US companies invested $6.8 billion in Korea in 2019. During the COVID-19 outbreak, American companies have been grateful for the opportunity to play a role in helping Korea overcome this challenge. Measures to contain the virus are unavoidably causing major disruptions in travel and economic activity. The Korean economy has been able to weather the COVID-19 crisis thanks to innovative technologies that would not exist without collaboration between Korean and global companies. Students continue their education in virtual classrooms of international schools, employees continue to collaborate through cloud computing platforms provided by America’s IT giants, and health care professionals continue to provide vital treatments using pharmaceuticals and medical devices developed and manufactured by American firms. Throughout the crisis, AMCHAM has been in close communication with our member companies to ensure that information is shared between the global business community and the Korean and US governments, while keeping companies informed so that they can fully comply with government guidelines. Thanks to the heroic efforts of the Korean government and people, a light at the end of the tunnel is approaching closer. As we move forward to a post-COVID-19 world, the same solutions that helped us overcome the crisis are will continue to be relevant to the way we live and do business. In preparing for this new economy, the Korean government should be just as proactive as it was in responding to COVID-19. This means creating a forward-looking business environment that supports continued innovation and collaboration between Korean companies and their global counterparts. Businesses should be encouraged and supported in adopting new technologies that not only contribute to public health but also economic efficiency. This includes sectors ranging from health care to cloud computing. Above all, it is important to recognize that the continuing strength of the US-Korea commercial economic partnerships will be vital for both countries’ economic recoveries. The Korea-US bilateral trade volume in goods reached $134 billion last year, with services trade including travel and tourism adding another $36 billion. As both countries recover from the economic damage wrought by COVID-19, it will be critical to keep trade and travel ties open between the two countries. While prudent action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is essential, the objective should be to return to normalcy as quickly as feasible. If the crisis is a test of Korea’s character, it can also be a pivotal moment to prove the resilience of the Korea-US partnership. For more than seven decades, our two countries have been vital partners to each other in good times and bad through the three key pillars of the US-Korea alliance: security, people-to-people and economic. The current situation is an opportunity to remind ourselves that we are always stronger together. American companies, who feel so much gratitude toward the Korean government and people, are able and willing to play our part. Just as Korea is showing the world that it is possible to overcome COVID-19, we are eager to work more rigorously with Korea to show the world that it is possible to make a strong and rapid economic recovery. By James Kim  Chairman and CEO, AMCHAM Korea 

2020.03.24

[News Article] ‘2020 화이자 사랑의 장학금’ 전달

▲ 한국화이자제약 오동욱 대표이사 사장(오른쪽)과 미래의동반자재단 제프리 존스 이사장   2002년부터 올해까지 총 814명 학생에게 약 39억 5천여만원의 장학금 수여장학금 지원 통해 미래 인재 양성을 도와 지역 사회 발전에 기여  [EMD] 한국화이자(www.pfizer.co.kr)는 대학생 인재 후원을 위한 ‘2020 화이자 사랑의 장학금’ 약 6,100만원을 주한미국상공회의소 산하 미래의동반자재단(이사장 제프리 존스)에 전달했다고 3월 17일 밝혔다.   ‘화이자 사랑의 장학금’은 미래 한국 사회의 주역이 될 학생들을 후원하기 위해 2002년부터 시작해 올해 19회를 맞이한 한국화이자의 정기적 사회 공헌 활동 중 하나로, 매년 재정적 어려움을 겪고 있는 대학생 중 우수한 인재들의 학업을 지원하고 있다. 특히, 임직원의 자발적 참여와 회사의 1:1 매칭 펀드를 통해 마련된 장학금은 주한미국상공회의소 산하 ‘미래의동반자재단’에 기탁되어 운영되고 있다.    한국화이자는 해당 프로그램을 통해 19년간 약 39억 5천여만원(총 39억 5,200여만 원)의 장학금을 재단에 전달했으며, 지난 한 해 동안 마련된 약 6,100만원(총 60,750,000원)은 학기 기준으로 올해 국내 대학생 총 22명의 장학금으로 운영된다.   한국화이자제약 오동욱 대표이사 사장은 “화이자 사랑의 장학금을 통해 우수한 학생들이 꿈과 희망을 갖고 우리 사회를 이끌어가는 훌륭한 인재로 성장하길 바란다”며 “앞으로도 한국화이자는 책임감 있는 기업 시민으로서 지역사회 발전 기여를 위해 다양하고 의미 있는 사회공헌활동을 이어 나갈 것”이라고 전했다.    한편 한국화이자는 장학 지원 사업 이외에도 ‘조손가정 행복 만들기’ 캠페인, 한국 의료계 발전에 기여하고 의학 연구 의욕을 고취하기 위한 ‘화이자 의학상’ 등 다양한 사회공헌 활동을 꾸준히 실천하고 있다.    편집부 기자 news@mdon.co.kr Copyright @이엠디(메디컴) All rights reserved.

2020.03.17

[News Article] 암참 "韓 드라이브스루 굉장히 창의적···美 입국금지 반대"

  제프리 존스 주한미국상의 이사회 회장이 지난해 3월 청와대 영빈관에서 열린 외국인투자 기업인과의 대화에서 사회를 보고 있다. 청와대사진기자단    [중앙일보] 주한미국상공회의소가 한국인에 대한 미국 정부의 여행 금지 조치에 반대한다는 입장을 5일 밝혔다.   제프리 존스 주한미국상공회의소(암참) 이사회 회장은 “(한국발 미국 여행자에 대한 체온 검사 조치가) 충분하다”며 “여행금지 조치가 시행되면 양국 국민과 기업, 경제에 심각한 타격을 유발할 수 있기 때문에 절대 금지해선 안 된다”고 말했다. 이날 서울 여의도 IFC에서 열린 코로나19 기자회견에 참석해서다.   제임스 김 암참 회장도 이날 기자회견에서 “한국은 코로나19에 강력히 대응하는 성공적인 사례로 전 세계로부터 본보기로 칭송받고 있다”며 “코로나19와 관련해 한국 정부와 매우 긴밀히 협력하고 있다”고 밝혔다. 제프리 존스 회장도 “미국은 맥도날드 등 햄버거 드라이브 스루를 개발했는데 한국은 코로나19 드라이브 스루 검사소를 만들었다”며 “굉장히 창의적인 접근”이라고 평가했다.   암참은 한국에서 코로나19 확진자가 많이 발생하고 있는 건 다른 나라들과 달리 당국이 우수한 보건·의료시스템을 통해 주도적이고 신속하게 검사를 하고 투명하게 공개한 데 있다고 평가했다.   암참은 회원사를 대상으로 진행한 설문조사 결과도 이날 내놨다. 암참이 회원사들을 대상으로 진행한 설문조사(2월 28일∼3월 4일) 결과에 따르면, 응답 기업의 70%가 코로나19로 업무·행사 진행 차질과 구매·고객 감소 영향을 받고 있다고 답했다. 회원사 73%는 1분기 영업실적 전망치를 코로나19 영향으로 낮췄다고 응답했다. 암참 관계자는 “관광·숙박업 기업들이 가장 큰 타격을 입고 있는 것으로 확인됐다”고 말했다.   이와 별도로 주한유럽상공회의소도 이날 코로나19 사태와 관련한 회원사 설문조사 결과를 공개했다. 주한유럽상의가 회원사를 대상으로 실시한 설문조사(2월 27일∼3월 4일)에 따르면 응답 기업의 82%가 코로나19로 '중간∼높음' 수준의 타격을 받고 있다고 답했다. 응답 기업의 55%는 올해 상반기 영업실적이 감소할 것이라고 예상했다. 유럽 기업들이 호소하는 코로나19 피해는 제품·서비스 수요 감소(65%), 사업·투자 의사결정 불확실성 확대(57%) 순이었다. 디미트리스 실라키스 주한유럽상의 회장은 “외국 기업들과도 적극적으로 소통하는 한국 당국의 노력과 대응을 전적으로 지지한다”고 말했다. 주한유럽상의는 지난달 24일 코로나19 피해 지역인 대구에 성금 1000만원을 전달했다.

2020.03.05