– The 2023 WKBC is only about 100 days away. How do you feel about it?
Executive Vice Chair Jim Koo: “Hosting the event for the first time presented numerous challenges. From preparing the venue to attracting companies, the organizing committee has been working tirelessly with a pioneering spirit. Particularly, attracting renowned Korean companies posed a challenge, but we are close to achieving our goal.”
Venue Chairman Sean Roh: “Initially, we expected 200-250 Korean companies to participate, but our efforts have paid off, with more than 450 companies expressing interest. Not only companies, but also cities such as Seoul, Seongnam, Yongin, and Cheonan, as well as seven provinces including Gyeonggi, South Chungcheong, South Jeolla, and South Gyeongsang, will be participating.”
– What is the significance of attracting companies and the participation of local governments?
Executive Vice Chair Edward Youn: “Traditionally, the World Korean Business Convention has been seen as a formal event with limited business outcomes by local governments and businesses in Korea. After a year of intense promotional activities, I am pleased that the organizing committee has successfully fostered an awareness and atmosphere that positions the convention as a genuine business networking opportunity.”
Executive Director Violet Oh: “Previous events in Korea have been organized by the central and local governments, but this time, an overseas private organization is taking the lead. This is especially meaningful as it is not a single organization from one region but a coalition of 20 out of the 78 Korean American Chambers of Commerce in the United States, including New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Seattle, led by Orange County.”
– How has the event grown in terms of exhibitors, attendance, etc.?
Koo: “Originally, we planned to use only 100,000 square feet of the first floor of the new Convention Center North, but we ended up needing the entire 200,000 square feet, effectively doubling our space. The number of booths increased from 300 to 600, and we also expanded the number of seminars. We anticipate around 5,000 participants, including companies and organizations.”
Roh: “We are also excited about the inaugural 2023 WKBC Venture Capital Investment Forum. This forum will provide young entrepreneurs and startup companies with an opportunity to present their products and technologies to investors on-site. It will not only benefit existing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) but also serve as a gateway for startups and the next generation of entrepreneurs to enter the global market.”
– Are local companies participating in this event?
Outreach and Communication Director Ho-El Park: “In addition to Korean companies and Korean companies based in the U.S., we have also seen participation from companies of other ethnicities. Furthermore, federal, state, and city governments such as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Department of Commerce, the Arkansas Office of Economic Development, Irvine, and Garden Grove, along with other economic organizations, will be present. Korean American business organizations, including the Real Estate Association, the Beauty Supply Association, and the Korean American Food Merchants Association, are also planning to set up booths. To encourage local businesses to participate, we will be organizing an exhibitor briefing next month.”
– Are there any special events during the convention?
Roh: “Fifty companies from the Korea Federation of SMEs will be hosting a home shopping stage, featuring live demonstrations of K-beauty makeup. Additionally, we will have a K-food experience booth in collaboration with E-Mart America and food trucks. Moreover, the Korea Art and Cultural Association’s International Music Festival, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. Alliance and the 120th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States, will be held during the convention. Expect inspiring harmonies from Korean and American orchestras. Due to the event’s expansion, the opening and closing ceremonies, along with various performances, will be held in an arena adjacent to the convention center. Keynote speakers will be invited for each day’s theme, and seminars for entrepreneurs, administrators, and academics will also be organized.”
– This is the first WKBC after the launch of the Overseas Koreans Agency.
Roh: “With the launch of the Overseas Koreans Agency, we are preparing to innovate and reinvent ourselves. This event will serve as a role model for large-scale gatherings where government agencies and private organizations of overseas Koreans collaborate. It is a historic event in the history of immigration, combining a business expo, networking opportunities, seminars, and cultural events.”
– Are there any plans before the convention begins?
Roh: “Preparations have already provided us with numerous networking opportunities. Out of the 600 booths, 500 have been contracted, and the remaining 100 will be allocated to local companies. We will make every effort to attract local and mainstream companies in the remaining period. We will also conduct surveys among participating companies to ensure we meet their needs to the best of our ability. Additionally, we will offer company tours, city tours, and one-on-one business matchmaking. We are grateful for the generous $10,000 donation from a Korean American individual who requested anonymity. We continue to seek the interest, participation, and support of Korean Americans in Orange County, as this event holds historic significance and can provide a launching pad for Korean American-led small and medium-sized enterprises to go global.”
BY NAKI PARK [support@koreadaily.com]
