The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea on Tuesday celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Conrad Seoul.

Around 400 senior private and public sector leaders from both countries joined the celebration commemorating six decades of successful partnership between American businesses and Korean companies, consumers and workers. 

Participants included U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Sung Kim; AMCHAM chairman and president of Boeing Korea Pat Gaines; AMCHAM president Amy Jackson; Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se; Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick; Saenuri Party chairman Hwang Woo-yea; Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Park Byeong-seug.

Heads of Korea’s major business organizations including Korea International Trade Association chairman Han Duck-soo and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sohn Kyung-shik were also present.

“The United States is thrilled to have partnered with Korea for the past 60 years to achieve a shared prosperity. We continue to expand our cooperation in all pillars of our bilateral partnership ― security, economy, international cooperation, and people-to-people ties,” Ambassador Kim said during his congratulatory remarks.

“Our founding members joined in rebuilding the nation after the (Korean) War and since then, we have partnered across sectors as the nation worked tirelessly to transform itself into a regional economic powerhouse. Today, our trade and investment ties are stronger than ever,” Gaines said.

AMCHAM leaders emphasized the organization is also growing and changing as the Korea-U.S. trade and economic relationship changes, and is focused on ways to promote innovation in the Korean economy, thereby promote greater foreign direct investment and new jobs.

The event ended with a performance by the Heart to Heart Orchestra, Korea’s first orchestra comprised of 40 talented young musicians with developmental disabilities.

Founded in 1953, AMCHAM Korea has around 900 member companies.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)