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The Korean and Japanese business communities drive forward cooperative initiatives for future generations
in hydrogen, demographics, and cultural cooperation
- Forum and Reception: Korea-Japan 60th Anniversary of Normalized Diplomatic Relations -
(Tokyo, October 16, 2025) — On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, the countries' business community leaders gathered to discuss measures for forward-looking mutual prosperity under the theme, “Moving beyond 60 years of cooperation and progressing toward the next 60 years of advancement.”
The Federation of Korean Industries (“FKI”) and the Japan Business Federation (“Keidanren”) consecutively held the ‘Forum on the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Normalized Diplomatic Relations between Korea and Japan’ as well as the ‘Reception,’ at Keidanren Hall in Tokyo on October 16 (Thu). Notably, participants at the reception included government representatives Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan, and Hyuk Lee, Ambassador of Korea to Japan, as well as key business leaders from both countries.
The forum, which was held ahead of the reception, was jointly hosted by the KoreaJapan and Japan-Korea Future Partnership Fund (“the Fund”) and the Keidanren Policy Research Institute. The forum discussed strengthening Korea-Japan cooperation in 3 areas: Environment and Energy, Low Birth Rates and Population Aging, and Culture and Startups.
[Forum] FKI Chairman Jin Roy Ryu: “Korea and Japan are partners in forward-looking mutual prosperity... We will build an enduring success story”
In his opening remarks, Jin Roy Ryu, Chairman of FKI, said he holds the recent measures to establish a consultation body between Korea and Japan to jointly address common social issues in high regard. He added that it is an opportune time for the business community to explore new opportunities for forward-looking mutual prosperity: “The cooperation measures discussed in today’s forum will serve as the blueprint for renewed Korea-Japan relations. We look forward to the two countries working as partners for forward-looking mutual prosperity, building an enduring story of success over the next 60 years.”
[Hydrogen] Cooperation is necessary in supply chains, standards, and infrastructure, including the joint establishment of a hub terminal
Session 1, Environment and Energy, began with the presentation delivered by research fellow Ji-yeong Ahn from KEEI on ‘Korea-Japan Cooperation Strategies for a Hydrogen Economy.”
[Low birth rates and population aging] Responses to the population crisis should reflect an economic perspective:
Proposal for a Korea-Japan business Community Cooperative Body
In Session 2, Low Birth Rates and Population Aging, Sok Chul Hong, professor at Seoul National University, emphasized: "Our approach to addressing the population crisis should be from an economic perspective, rather than from a welfare point-of-view."
Professor Hong remarked, “Korean and Japanese companies are experiencing similar demographic shifts. This calls for the formation of a private-led cooperative body aimed at addressing the population crisis.” This cooperative body would perform various tasks, including promoting cooperation between government, business, and academia as well as creating synergy with the government-headed consultation body on low birth rates and population aging.
Hong proposed exchanging success stories, joint policy proposals, and promoting standardization in relevant technology and services as potential cooperation measures between Korean and Japanese businesses.
Japan’s Takumi Fujinami, senior principal researcher of the Japan Research Institute, delivered a presentation on ‘Response Measures on Low Birth Rates and Population Aging and Tasks for Regional Vitalization.’
FKI commented that, with the Fund taking the lead, the Federation will continue its cooperation with the Japanese business community in addressing low birth rates and population aging in the two countries.
[Culture and Startups] Promoting cultural exchange through digital platforms...
Support should be extended through a joint fund
In Session 3, Culture and Startups, Hye-min Lim, CEO of Creatrip, stated: “The two-way cultural exchange among Korean and Japanese Generation Z enables accessing K-lifestyle through social media,” and called for the formation of a ‘Korea-Japan Culture-tech Innovation Fund (Tentative name)’. This fund would utilize capital contributions from business communities and institutions from Korea and Japan to support digital technology-based cultural exchange projects led by startups.
[Reception] FKI Chairman Jin Roy Ryu: “I look forward to Korea and Japan becoming the closest of neighbors, both geographically and in friendship”
Attending the reception—jointly held by FKI, Keidanren, and the Fund—which was held after the forum, were Chairman Jin Roy Ryu, Chairman Tsutsui, and other business community members from Korea and Japan. Government representatives from the two countries, including Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan, and Hyuk Lee, Ambassador of Korea to Japan, also attended the reception, reaffirming the shared commitment to advancing a future-oriented Korea-Japan partnership.