The Republic of Korea, the Largest Non-European Investor in the Czech Republic
POSITIV 3/2021 47
There is a wide representation of
South Korean companies from the
automotive sector within the Moravian-
Silesian Region. Are there any plans for
investment in other industrial fields in
the near future?
According to CzechInvest, the Republic
of Korea is the fourth biggest investor in
the Czech Republic. Korean companies
are very active in investing in Czechia,
especially in the Moravian-Silesian
Region (MSR). Korean companies have
an excellent business relationship with
the MSR because it has an outstanding
workforce, convenient transportation to
bordering nations and proactive regional
governmental support.
The automobile industry, a focal point
of industrial cooperation between
both countries, has been leading
Korean investment in the CR so far.
Recently, it is facing a dramatic change
with technological breakthroughs. An
automobile is transferring itself into
a comprehensive electronic machine
with state-of-the-art technologies open to
tremendous opportunities.
As borders between different sectors
become more vague, Korea’s major
electronic and chemical companies
are already expanding their portfolio to
manufacturing electronic parts of vehicles
and EV batteries. And these companies
are considering the MSR as one of their
possible bases for reaching out to Europe,
one of the world’s biggest eco-friendly
automobile markets.
Can you describe some of the biggest
differences between Czech businessmen
and South Korean businessmen?
Between the two countries, we find more
similarities based on historical experiences
and economic structure. Both countries
have risen as solid economies in Europe
and Asia with the long and competitive
manufacturing experiences and export-led
economies with advanced technologies.
Furthermore, Korea and Czechia have
benefited from progressive entrepreneurs
and diligent workforces. These similarities
make the two closer in terms of economic
and industrial cooperation.
However, Czech investment in Korea is
relatively insignificant when compared to
Korean investment in the Czech Republic.
Major European powers are already
engaging in the Indo-Pacific region by
considering it a core engine for future
global economy and politics. I sincerely
hope to see Czech investors’ stronger
interests in Korea, as well.
What do you think is the first thing that
comes to the mind of a South Korean
citizen when they think of Czechia? What
makes the Czech Republic desirable for
investors?
The Czech Republic is one of the countries
that many Koreans want to visit. It is
famous for the beautiful city of Prague,
spectacular scenery and the best beer
in the world. In fact, before the breakout
of COVID-19, daily direct flights between
Prague and Incheon enabled more than
400,000 Koreans per year to visit Czechia.
Now the horizon is also being expanded to
the MSR, and also to Brno and Olomouc.
For Korean entrepreneurs, investing in
Czechia is often considered a great strategic
option for reaching out to the European
market. They especially value Czechia’s
geopolitical advantage (positioned at the
heart of Europe), reliable system, business-
friendly central and regional governments,
outstanding human resources and high
levels of community security.
Mr Ambassador, thank you for the interview.
s pokročilými technologiemi rozrostly
na solidní ekonomiky v Evropě a Asii. Kro-
mě toho Korea a Česko těžily ze svých
progresivních podnikatelů a pilné pracov-
ní síly. Díky těmto podobnostem jsou si
obě země bližší, pokud jde o hospodář-
skou a průmyslovou spolupráci.
České investice v Koreji jsou však ve srov-
nání s korejskými investicemi v ČR re-
lativně nevýznamné. Hlavní evropské
mocnosti se již angažují v indopacifickém
regionu tím, že jej považují za klíčový mo-
tor budoucí globální ekonomiky a politiky.
Upřímně doufám, že se silnějšího zájmu
českých investorů dočkáme i v Koreji.
Co si Korejci vybaví jako první, když se
řekne Česká republika? Čím je zajímavá
pro investory?
Česká republika je jednou z oblíbe-
ných zemí, kterou chce navštívit mnoho
Korejců. Je proslulá krásným hlavním
městem Prahou, nádhernými sceneri-
emi a nejlepším pivem na světě. Před
vypuknutím pandemie covidu-19 na-
vštěvovalo Česko ročně více než
400 000 Korejců, a to díky každoden-
nímu přímému leteckému spojení mezi
Prahou a Inčchonem. Nyní se horizont
rozšiřuje i na Moravskoslezský kraj
a rovněž Brno a Olomouc.
Pro korejské podnikatele jsou investice
v ČR často považovány za skvělou strate-
gickou možnost, jak se dostat na evropský
trh. Oceňují zejména geopolitické výhody
České republiky (umístěné v srdci Evropy),
spolehlivé zřízení, centrální vládu a kraj-
ská zastupitelství vstřícná k podnikání,
vynikající lidské zdroje a vysokou úroveň
bezpečnosti.
Pane velvyslanče, děkujeme Vám
za rozhovor.