Why Georgia Matters for South Korea: Georgia is home to some of the largest Korean investments in the United States, including Hyundai Motor Group’s $7.6 billion Metaplant–the biggest economic development project in state history–and significant supply-chain growth across the state.     

South Korea is now one of Georgia’s top foreign partners in manufacturing, job creation, and workforce development. Korean companies are strengthening the state’s capabilities in advanced production, technology, clean energy, and training programs that support U.S. competitiveness and economic security.    

This public program brings together senior policymakers, industry experts, and academic leaders to examine the intersection of economic security, innovation, technology competition, and the United States’ evolving partnership with South Korea. Ambassador Kyung-wha Kang will deliver opening remarks, followed by an academic session featuring experts on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, supply-chain resilience, and the future of U.S.-Korea technological cooperation. The conversation comes at a pivotal moment as both countries invest heavily in advanced technologies and seek to strengthen secure, resilient supply chains.

Participants:

• Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha
• Lee Sung-hwan, Director-General for Diplomatic Strategy and Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Lee Hyo-young, Associate Professor, Korean National Diplomatic Academy
• Ryan Fedasiuk, Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
• Minjai Cho, Vice President of Absolics Business Innovation Division, SKC
• Jae Kim, President, Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce
• Moderated by: Jenny Jun, Assistant Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs