The 19th World Korean Business Convention, the biggest networking event for Korean entrepreneurs working across the globe, kicked off on Tuesday at the Lotte Hotel World in southern Seoul, returning with a mix of virtual and on-site programs after one-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year’s event jointly organized by Maeil Business Newspaper, MBN, and Overseas Koreans Foundation will center on the theme of “Fourth Industry Revolution and Green New Deal to Tackle Climate Change.”

The annual event has drawn more than 1,000 Korean business leaders across the globe to explore new visions in the post-pandemic era amid fast-changing global developments and policies. The forum, which was cancelled last year due to coronavirus restrictions, will run until Thursday with both online and offline sessions, allowing businesses that have difficulty visiting Korea to connect virtually.

Ahead of the opening of the convention, the 2021 Young Business Leaders Forum (YBLF) kicked off on Monday in Seoul. Co-sponsored by The Maeil Business Newspaper, MBN, Overseas Koreans Foundation and Young Business Leaders Network, this year’s YBLF was attended by more than 60 young business leaders under the age of 45 from more than 20 countries to call for digitalization of business networks, discuss ways to pioneer new markets and share their business insights and experiences.

The YBLF will run until Thursday in tandem with the World Korean Business Convention. The general assembly of the YBLF is scheduled for Wednesday, followed by a plenary session on Thursday.

By Special Coverage Team and Lee Soo-min

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]