About 20 Business Leaders to Accompany President Roh to Inter-Korean Summit

President Roh Moo-hyun is reportedly planning to have a meeting with the heads of five major business associations, including Federation of Korean Industries Chairman Cho Seok-rae, and other business leaders on August 22 prior to the second inter-Korean summit.

According to the business community, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy recently informed the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) that the president was planning to preside over a meeting about inter-Korean economic cooperation on or around August 22, and requested a list of potential attendees.

Accordingly, the KCCI sent a list of 100 business leaders, including chairmen of five major business associations, namely the FKI, KCCI, Korea International Trade Association, Korea Employers Federation, and Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, and other major businessmen and leaders of tenant companies at the Gaesong Industrial Complex. But the chairmen of Korea’s four largest companies, Samsung, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, LG, and SK, were not among the listed figures.

The ruling Uri Party’s Northeast Peace Committee also held a meeting with business leaders in the industry and resource sectors on August 13, and one with leaders in the construction and civil engineering sectors yesterday, in order to come up with an agenda for the upcoming summit.

The business community interprets such moves as an effort to encourage the business community to participate in inter-Korean economic cooperation.

Some say that the number of business leaders who will accompany the president to the upcoming summit talks will be up nine to reach 20 from the 11 who attended the first inter-Korean summit in 2000.

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