South Korean president sees new era for business ties with Japan

Yoon identifies semiconductors, batteries and EVs as areas ripe for cooperation

20230317 Japan-Korea Business Roundtable meeting in Tokyo 2

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, speaks at a meeting of business leaders in Tokyo on March 17. © Kyodo

KIM JAEWON, Nikkei staff writer

March 17, 2023 15:18 JST

Updated on March 17, 2023 18:30 JST

TOKYO -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, accompanied by top corporate executives including the chairmen of Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor, expressed optimism on Friday for business cooperation with Japanese companies.

"Today, we have gathered here to transform soured South Korea-Japan relations to ones that are future-oriented and prepare a framework for new business cooperation," Yoon said in a speech to Japanese and South Korean business leaders a day after a breakthrough summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.