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AMCHAM
workshop explores AI-ready workforce, CEO risks
Google, OpenAI, Speak and Kim &
Chang share insights on AI adoption, productivity, legal compliance
By Nam Hyun-woo, The Korea Times - The
American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) held its HR Workshop 2026 at the
Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday, bringing together about 100 business leaders and
professionals to discuss artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, workforce
transformation and corporate risk management.
Under the theme “AI-Ready Workforce:
Leading People & Managing Risk in the Age of AI,” the workshop explored how
companies can use AI to improve productivity and employee capabilities while
addressing legal and organizational challenges.
“AI is changing how we work. Our job as
leaders is to make that change work for our businesses and our people,” AMCHAM
Chairman and CEO James Kim said. “Employees need the skills and confidence to
use [AI tools] well, while leaders need to set clear expectations and manage
risk.”
Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae, co-chair of the
Korea-U.S. Parliamentary Union, emphasized the importance of investing in
future talent and strengthening risk management alongside technology adoption.
In a keynote presentation, Lee Sang-im,
director of the Vocational Skills Policy Division at the Ministry of Employment
and Labor, introduced the K-New Deal Academy, a youth vocational training
initiative that works with companies to provide industry-specific training and
prepare young people for employment. Lee encouraged foreign-invested companies
to participate by sharing their expertise.
Chenie Yoon, APAC public affairs lead at
Google, presented findings from the company's ATLAS study, examining how
real-world AI use is reshaping jobs and tasks. She highlighted applications
including brainstorming, research and complex problem-solving.
Eum Sung-won, head of Korea
communications at OpenAI, discussed how ChatGPT can help employees reduce
repetitive tasks and focus on work requiring judgment and creativity. He also
stressed the need for stronger cybersecurity, clear data-access rules and human
oversight of critical decisions.
Lee Sun-jae, APAC people operations lead
at Speakeasy Labs Korea, which operates the AI-powered language-learning
platform Speak, said companies must rethink how knowledge is shared and
responsibilities are defined to turn AI adoption into lasting organizational
improvements.
Matthew F. Jones, a foreign attorney at
Kim & Chang, outlined practical measures chief executives can take to
reduce legal risks in Korea, highlighting the strategic role of human resources
teams.
A panel discussion moderated by Claudia
Hong, senior vice president of AMCHAM, brought together Yoon, Lee, Hyunjae
Park, a senior attorney at Kim & Chang, and Jihee Choi, senior HR director
at Estée Lauder Companies Korea.
The panel examined how businesses can
move beyond AI experimentation to broader implementation while balancing
productivity gains with employee trust and legal compliance.
The workshop concluded with a networking
luncheon, where participants exchanged views on workforce development and
responsible AI adoption.
