Spotlight on K-Entrepreneurship:
Human-Centered and Community Values
in an Era of Global Transformation
The global spotlight is now on Jinju, known as the "Entrepreneurship Capital of Korea," a city famous for nurturing and connecting the founders of Korea's four major conglomerates-LG, GS, Samsung, and Hyosung-who were the driving force behind the Korean economic miracle.
On October 27, Jinju City and the Jinju K-Entrepreneurship Foundation held the opening ceremony and academic event of the "2025 Jinju K-Entrepreneurship International Forum" at the Centennial Memorial Hall of Gyeongsang National University (Gyeongnam Esports Stadium), under the theme "The Role of Entrepreneurship in an Era of Global Transformation."
The event was attended by over 450 participants, including Han Seungsoo, the 39th Prime Minister of Korea; Jan Kavan, President of the 57th United Nations General Assembly; Cho Gyu-il, Mayor of Jinju and Co-Chair of the Jinju K-Entrepreneurship International Forum; Oh Joon, former President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council; Kim Jongwook, Chairman of the Jinju K-Entrepreneurship Foundation; Skip Henderson, Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, USA; Ayman El Tarabishy, President of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB); Yang Heedong, President of the Korean Academic Society of Business Administration; Park Junsung, Vice President of LG; Steve Young, Secretary General of the Cox Roundtable (CRT); Paul Chan, President of HELP University Malaysia; David Sprott, Dean of the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management, USA; as well as entrepreneurship experts from Korea and abroad, university students from various countries, businesspeople, and citizens. Reflecting the forum’s global stature, more than 200 international participants from 28 countries-including entrepreneurship experts, students, and business leaders-were present.
The forum consisted of the awarding of honorary citizenships, welcoming and opening remarks, keynote speeches, and sessions by the United Nations General Assembly Presidents' Council, university presidents from around the world, and the City of Columbus, Georgia, USA.
Group photo of the opening ceremony and academic event of the 2025 Jinju K-Entrepreneurship International Forum.
Mayor Cho Gyu-il awarded honorary citizenships to former Prime Minister Han Seungsoo and Winslow Sargeant, former Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in recognition of their significant contributions to promoting Jinju K-Entrepreneurship on the global stage.
In his welcoming address, Mayor Cho stated, "To overcome the crises and challenges we face today-such as climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and the rapid technological advancements driven by artificial intelligence-we need an indomitable spirit of challenge, creative innovation, and entrepreneurship that values people and communities. Entrepreneurship is not merely an economic tool, but a culture and spirit that creates a new society. The Jinju K-Entrepreneurship International Forum will serve as a platform to reawaken, share, and pass on these values to the next generation together with the world."
In his opening remarks, Kim Jongwook, Chairman of the Jinju K-Entrepreneurship Foundation, emphasized, "We live in an era where we must constantly learn and forge new paths in the face of change. Change is both a threat and an opportunity. Entrepreneurship is the power to turn those opportunities into reality."
As keynote speaker, former Prime Minister Han Seungsoo stated, "In this era of great transformation, the roles of the United Nations and entrepreneurship are crucial. The global challenges of the 21st century cannot be solved by any single nation alone; inclusive global governance involving governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society is absolutely essential. Businesses must drive technological innovation for sustainability, governments must provide the institutional foundation to enable this, and the international community must offer mutual trust and norms."
Jan Kavan, President of the 57th United Nations General Assembly, said, "In an era of uncertainty marked by climate change, geopolitical crises, and growing regional divisions, entrepreneurship demonstrates its true value. It is the source of growth and a key factor for success. International organizations like the United Nations and entrepreneurship must play a central role in this age of global transformation."
The session that drew the most attention at this international forum was the United Nations General Assembly Presidents' Council, held under the theme "The Role of Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development with the United Nations." Oh Joon, President of the 71st United Nations Economic and Social Council, served as chair, with Han Seungsoo, President of the 56th United Nations General Assembly; Jan Kavan, President of the 57th United Nations General Assembly; Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly; Jahangir Khan, Secretary-General of the United Nations General Assembly Presidents' Council; Ayman El Tarabishy, President of ICSB; and Steve Young, Secretary General of the Cox Roundtable, as speakers. They focused on discussing the role of global governance centered on the United Nations in addressing the current global crisis.
This was followed by sessions for university presidents from around the world and the City of Columbus, Georgia, USA. In the "World University Presidents' Session," Gregory Hill, Head of the University of Utah Asia Campus; Stuart Rayfield, President of Columbus State University; Paul Chan, President of HELP University Malaysia; Kwon Jinhoe, President of Gyeongsang National University; and Ahn Seungkwon, President of Yeonam Institute of Technology, participated as speakers. They engaged in passionate discussions on the direction of entrepreneurship education in this era of transformation and the role of universities in leading a sustainable and inclusive global startup ecosystem.
Finally, in the City of Columbus, Georgia, USA session, Skip Henderson, Mayor of Columbus; Stuart Rayfield, President of Columbus State University; David Lewis, Superintendent of Muscogee County; Missy Kendrick, President of Choose Columbus; and Oh Youngjin, CEO of The Korea Times, discussed servant leadership and entrepreneurship in Georgia, as well as sustainable economic cooperation between Korea and the United States.
The second day of the international forum, October 28, is also expected to be lively from the morning. In the first session, the World Entrepreneurship Experts Session, Ayman El Tarabishy, President of ICSB; Winslow Sargeant, former Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); and Stanley Oh, Chairman of Delta Asia Financial Group, will speak. They will explore strategies to create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities by integrating Eastern Confucian values with Western innovation-driven entrepreneurship, focusing on people-centered entrepreneurship in the age of AI.
In the "Creation and Innovation Roundtable Session," Kim Keechan, President of ICSB Korea; Jason Woodard, Dean of the School of Innovation at the University of Hong Kong; Moon Gookhyun, Chairman of the Korea Peter Drucker Management Institute; and Nicholas Lum, Professor at HELP University Malaysia, will discuss how creative innovation based on empathy can design a sustainable innovation ecosystem for the next generation.
The Korean Academic Society of Business Administration session will feature Jung Daeyul, President of the Gyeongnam Chapter; Park Jinyong, Senior Vice President; Jung Yeonseung, Chair of the Awards Selection Committee; and Kim Sangjun, Executive Managing Director, who will focus on the leadership of LG Chairman Koo Ja Kyung, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth this year.
Finally, in the TAM Society session, Cho Namjae, Professor at Hanyang University; Santosh Rangnekar, Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology; Kanes Raja, Director of CEPD London, UK; and Cinzia Dess?, Professor at the University of Cagliari, Italy, will discuss the growth and challenges of K-Entrepreneurship from a global perspective.
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