Advocacy
The 2019’s ECCK White Paper was compiled by dedicated ECCK staffs with the considerable support of 166 company experts from our industrial committees and working groups nominated by the Chamber’s 360 member companies. It includes 180 constructive recommendations to the Korean government raised through 20 ECCK Committees and Working Groups. In 2019, the ECCK has included new recommendations from Aerospace & Defense, Financial Services, Tourism, and Human Resources Working Groups.

In March 2019, President Moon Jae-in invited the foreign business community to a meeting at the Blue House in which he stressed the importance of foreign business to the Korean economy and the Korean society. The meeting is a commitment towards a closer communication and cooperation between the Korean government and European business.

The ECCK is grateful to have received full feedback on all 123 issues and recommendations raised in its White Paper 2018; about 40% of those were positively considered (out of 123 recommendations, 17 were accepted, 9 were partially accepted, and 23 already implemented).

Despite those very positive signs, the ECCK suggests even further cooperation through strengthened communication channels between the Korean government and European business.
ECCK White Paper 2019
Advocacy for a more conducive economic environment is a core activity of the ECCK. By actively engaging in advocacy, we raise our profile among government decisionmakers and enhances our reputation within the business community.
The key to effective business advocacy is dedicated efforts on issues consistent with ECCK’s vision and mission and transparency in communicating the issues to both government and the member companies. In order to effectively represent our members’ interests and implement the necessary changes to better the Korean business environment, we have several standing industrial committees and working groups to collect issues and opinions.

To better provide information and transparency, advocating a pro-business agenda to government officials, the ECCK White Paper took shape as a medium to share such information. The White Paper provides an overview of the regulatory landscape in Korea as well as industry-specific challenges and prospects. The views put forward in the White Paper is solely intended to promote open and effective dialogue and offer constructive recommendations for the improvement of European-Korean business relations.
Advocacy at our Core
ECCK consistently strives to strengthen and broaden our communication channels on behalf of our members to maintain dialogue and influence, both Korean government and EU authorities and Member State governments. In 2019, ECCK held over 180 meetings with the Korean government, and 25 meetings with European authorities to discuss the issues and suggestions included in the White Paper.

During 2019, ECCK organized and was invited to the following high-level meetings: President Moon Jae-in, Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, Chairman of Environment and Labor Committee of National Assembly Hack Yong Kim, Governor of Financial Supervisory Service Yoo Suck Heon, Chairperson of Korea Fair Trade Commission Joh Sung-wook, EFTA Secretary General Henri Gétaz, Chairman of National Council on Climate and Air Quality Ban Ki-moon as well as both current and former EU Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan and Cecilia Malmström.

These meetings allowed ECCK and member companies to raise issues directly with senior-level decision makers and to create opportunities to follow up at the working level with various government ministries.
ECCK delivered White Paper 2019 to EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan
President Moon’s Dialogue with Foreign Companies
ECCK Roundtable Meeting with Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee
ECCK White Paper 2019 Press Conference