Seokyoung CHOI - Lee & Ko

Director of Lee & Ko Global Commerce Institute, Senior Advisor

Seokyoung CHOI

E[email protected]

T+82-2-6386-6620

Corporate

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2004	KDI School of Public Policy & Management - M.B.A.
1983-1985	University of Heidelberg
1979	Seoul National University - B.A.

LOAD MORE Work Experience

2016 - Present	Senior Advisor, Lee & Ko
2020.7 - 2021.7	Ambassador for Economy and Trade
2019.9 - 2020.8	Adjunct Professor, GSIS, Yonsei University
2017 - Present	Member of Committee of Diplomatic Capacity Assessment, Korea National Diplomatic Academy
2016 - 2020.4	Outside Director, Lotte Shopping
2016 - 2018	Visiting Professor, GSIS, SNU
2016 - 2018	Trade Policy Commissioner, ASPI
2015 - 2018	Member, Advisory group , UNCERF
2013 - 2018	Chairman, WG on Accession of Uzbekistan to WTO
2014 - 2015	Chairman, CTS of the WTO
2013 - 2014	Chairman , Executive Committee, UNHCR
2013 -2014	Vice-Chairman, UNCC
2012 - 2015	Ambassador in Geneva
2010 - 2012	Deputy Minister for FTA, MOFAT
2009 - 2010	Ambassador for DDA, MOFAT
2006 -2009	Economic Minister, Korean Embassy in the U.S.
2005	Executive Director, APEC
2004	Deputy Executive Director, APEC
2002 - 2003	Deputy Director General, APEC
2001-2002	Adviser to the President of UNGA
1999 - 2002	Counselor, Korea's Mission to the UN in NY
1997 -1999	Director, Division of Environmental Cooperation, MOFA
1994 -1997	Counselor, Korea's Mission to the UN in Geneva
1988 -1991	First Secretary, Korean Embassy in Kenya

LOAD MORE Languages

Korean, English and German

Awards & Recognitions

2013	Mr. Choi is a recipient of the Service Merit Medal awarded in 2006 and the Order of Service Merit(Yellow Stripes) awarded in 2013, both from the Government of the Republic of Korea.

LOAD MORE Publications / Presentations / ETC A Diplomat's Journal on Korea's FTA Negotiations, Pakyoungsa, Jan. 2016 (Korean) Revisiting the Open Regionalism of APEC, KIEP, Sep. 2004 (English) The Outcome of APEC 2005 Korea and Challenges Ahead, Journal of APEC Studies, ASAK, 2005 Regionalism and Open Regionalism in the APEC Region, ISEAS, Singapore, Nov. 2004 Changing Climatic System and the UN's Response, The UN and ROK in the 21st Century-New Challenges and Responses, Orum, 2002 Climate Change Convention and Kyoto Protocol, Focus of Negotiations and Prospects, Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, 2002 Negotiations of Climate Change Convention System and Korea's Option(2), Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, 1999 Negotiations of Climate Change Convention System and Korea's Option(1), Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, 1998 Trade and Environment Issues and WTO(2), Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, Apr.1997 Trade and Environment Issues and WTO(1), Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, Feb.,1997 Crisis of Multilateral Trading System and Options for Korea, Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, Feb., 2020 Universality of Human Rights and Absolutism of Sovereignty, International Human Rights Newsletter, Feb., 2020 Japanese export control aims to have a strong hold on Korea, DongA Weekly, Jul., 2019 Escalation of Korea-Japan export control will lead to catastrophe, Hankyung Business Daily, July, 2019 Where does the Multilateral Trading System head for?, International Trade Society, April, 2019 'America First' after the mid-term Election, Maeil Business Daily, December, 2018 Amendment of NAFTA and Korea's Options, Maeil Business Daily, October, 2018 The KORUS Amendment is a New Beginning, Maeil Business Daily, Sep., 2018 The State of Play of the Import Restrictions pursuant to the Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, Lee&Ko Global Commerce Institute, Vol.1, 2018 Escalation of the Global Trade War must be avoided, Maeil Business News, July, 2018 WTO in Crisis, No Alternatives?, Maeil Business Newsy, June 2018 U.S Unilateralism and the Future of the Regional Economic Integration, Maeil Business News , May, 2018 Arbitrary Steel Import Restriction of the U.S., Maeil Business News, March, 2018 Merits and Demerits of the 'America First' Trade Policy, Maeil Business News, Feb,. 2018 KORUS FTA renegotiations, what to prepare?, Maeil Business News, Jan., 2018 KORUS FTA renegotiations, highly strategic approach is needed, Maeil Business News, July, 2017 There is no Omnipotent Candidate, Financial News, June, 2017 How to prepare for the KORUS FTA renegotiations, Donga Weekly, Feb., 2017 Korean Diaspora, who are they?, Seoul Shimun, Dec., 2016 How to respond to the aggressive Trade Team of the U.S., Chosun Biz, Dec., 2016 Trump, Radical trade measures unlikely due to check and balance of the Congress, Economy Chosun, Nov 2016 What is meant for the Paris Climate Change Agreement, Seoul Shimun, Oct 2016 Will the U.S. turn to the protectionism?, Seoul Shimun, Sep 2016 Now, it is Pyeongchang and Gangleung!. Seoul Shimun, Aug 2016 The growth pains of the European integration of BREXIT, Seoul Shimun, July 2016 International Cooperation for the DPRK's human rights protection, Seoul Shimun, June 2016 Technology progress and the Future of Work, Seoul Shimun, May 2016, Changing trade environment and opportunity to innovate, Seoul Shimun, Mar 2016 Global refugee crises and international cooperation, Seoul Shimun, Feb 2016 A View from Geneva on DPRK's Human Rights Situation, Kyunghyang Shimun, Jun. 2015 International Cooperation for the Quarantine Measures against MERS, Maeil Business News, Jun. 2015 Our Humble Hero, Captain Chun Jeyong, Kyunghyang Shimun, Sep. 2014 Innovation Dream of the Geneva's Watch Industry, Munwha Daily, May, 2014 Now We Are Heading to Geneva, Munwha Daily, May, 2013 'Arab Spring' Urgently Needed for Humanitarian Assistance, Kyunghyang Shimun, May 2013 Trust the Creativity of Koreans, Hankyung Daily, May 2013 Refuge Crises and the UNHCR, Kyunghyang Shimun, Oct. 2012 Expecting the Running of Korean Movies on US Screens, Maeil Business News, Nov. 2011 Korea-US FTA and Brood Parasitism, Maeil Business News, Aug. 2011 Korea-EU FTA, A Leapfrog for 21st Century, Administration's Focus, Jul-Aug 2011 LOAD MORE Related news

Press & Releases

[Chosun Biz] Lee & Ko Launches South Korea’s Largest Tech & AI Team 2024.04.22

Seminar/Event

Lee & Ko Hosts Seminar on Risk Factors Relating to Changes in United States Foreign Investment Laws 2018.09.18 LOAD MORE LIST

Seokyoung CHOI Director of Lee & Ko Global Commerce Institute, Senior Advisor TEL +82-2-6386-6620 E-MAIL [email protected]

Mr. Seokyoung Choi is a retired Ambassador who served more than 37 years as a career diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Highly experienced in handling a broad range of bilateral and multilateral diplomatic matters, Mr. Choi has a particularly extensive record of diplomatic accomplishments with regard to WTO and regional trade agreement matters, as well as various United Nations issues and concerns. As a Senior Advisor at Lee & Ko since May 1, 2016, Mr. Choi provides insightful analysis, contextual understanding and critical advice on numerous issues of high relevance to client projects and transactions, particularly with regard to international trade agreements (bilateral and multilateral) and related policies and concerns.

Education

2004	KDI School of Public Policy & Management - M.B.A.
1983-1985	University of Heidelberg
1979	Seoul National University - B.A.

Work Experience

2016 - Present	Senior Advisor, Lee & Ko
2020.7 - 2021.7	Ambassador for Economy and Trade
2019.9 - 2020.8	Adjunct Professor, GSIS, Yonsei University
2017 - Present	Member of Committee of Diplomatic Capacity Assessment, Korea National Diplomatic Academy
2016 - 2020.4	Outside Director, Lotte Shopping
2016 - 2018	Visiting Professor, GSIS, SNU
2016 - 2018	Trade Policy Commissioner, ASPI
2015 - 2018	Member, Advisory group , UNCERF
2013 - 2018	Chairman, WG on Accession of Uzbekistan to WTO
2014 - 2015	Chairman, CTS of the WTO
2013 - 2014	Chairman , Executive Committee, UNHCR
2013 -2014	Vice-Chairman, UNCC
2012 - 2015	Ambassador in Geneva
2010 - 2012	Deputy Minister for FTA, MOFAT
2009 - 2010	Ambassador for DDA, MOFAT
2006 -2009	Economic Minister, Korean Embassy in the U.S.
2005	Executive Director, APEC
2004	Deputy Executive Director, APEC
2002 - 2003	Deputy Director General, APEC
2001-2002	Adviser to the President of UNGA
1999 - 2002	Counselor, Korea's Mission to the UN in NY
1997 -1999	Director, Division of Environmental Cooperation, MOFA
1994 -1997	Counselor, Korea's Mission to the UN in Geneva
1988 -1991	First Secretary, Korean Embassy in Kenya

Expertise

Corporate

International Trade

International Arbitration

Tech & AI

Global Commerce Institute

Languages

Korean, English and German

Representative Cases

[Environment]

• Negotiations on Montreal Protocol on substances that depletes the ozone layer(1986-88)

• Negotiations on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes(1988-89)

• Negotiations on the Framework Convention on Climate Changes(1992)

• Negotiations on the Framework Convention on Biological Diversity(1992)

• Negotiations on Kyoto Protocol to the Climate Change Conventions(1997)

[Intergovernmental Organizations]

• UN, APEC, WTO, ILO, UNCTAD, WIPO, WHO, UNHCR, UNCHR, Conference of Disarmament etc (1999-2015)

[FTA/BIT]

• Negotiations and Ratification of the Korea-U.S. FTA (2006-12)

• Ratification of the Korea-EU FTA (2010-11)

• Signing of the Korea's FTA with Peru (2011), Turkey (2012), Colombia (2012)

• Negotiations of Bilateral FTAs with Australia, Canada and New Zealand (2010-12)

• Launching of Korea-China FTA (2011-12)

• Launching of Korea-China-Japan FTA and RCEP as well as Conclusion of Korea-China-Japan BIT (2012)

[WTO]

• Conclusion of WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (2013) and ITA Agreement II (2014-15)

• WTO DDA Negotiations (2006-2015)

Awards & Recognitions

2013	Mr. Choi is a recipient of the Service Merit Medal awarded in 2006 and the Order of Service Merit(Yellow Stripes) awarded in 2013, both from the Government of the Republic of Korea.

Publications / Presentations / ETC

• A Diplomat's Journal on Korea's FTA Negotiations, Pakyoungsa, Jan. 2016 (Korean)
• Revisiting the Open Regionalism of APEC, KIEP, Sep. 2004 (English)
• The Outcome of APEC 2005 Korea and Challenges
• Ahead, Journal of APEC Studies, ASAK, 2005
• Regionalism and Open Regionalism in the APEC Region, ISEAS, Singapore, Nov. 2004
• Changing Climatic System and the UN's Response, The UN and ROK in the 21st Century-New Challenges and Responses, Orum, 2002
• Climate Change Convention and Kyoto Protocol, Focus of Negotiations and Prospects, Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, 2002
• Negotiations of Climate Change Convention System and Korea's Option(2), Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, 1999
• Negotiations of Climate Change Convention System and Korea's Option(1), Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, 1998
• Trade and Environment Issues and WTO(2), Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, Apr.1997
• Trade and Environment Issues and WTO(1), Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, Feb.,1997
• Crisis of Multilateral Trading System and Options for Korea, Trade Law Journal, Ministry of Justice, Feb., 2020
• Universality of Human Rights and Absolutism of Sovereignty, International Human Rights Newsletter, Feb., 2020
• Japanese export control aims to have a strong hold on Korea, DongA Weekly, Jul., 2019
• Escalation of Korea-Japan export control will lead to catastrophe, Hankyung Business Daily, July, 2019
• Where does the Multilateral Trading System head for?, International Trade Society, April, 2019
• 'America First' after the mid-term Election, Maeil Business Daily, December, 2018
• Amendment of NAFTA and Korea's Options, Maeil Business Daily, October, 2018
• The KORUS Amendment is a New Beginning, Maeil Business Daily, Sep., 2018
• The State of Play of the Import Restrictions pursuant to the Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, Lee&Ko Global Commerce Institute, Vol.1, 2018
• Escalation of the Global Trade War must be avoided, Maeil Business News, July, 2018
• WTO in Crisis, No Alternatives?, Maeil Business Newsy, June 2018
• U.S Unilateralism and the Future of the Regional Economic Integration, Maeil Business News , May, 2018
• Arbitrary Steel Import Restriction of the U.S., Maeil Business News, March, 2018
• Merits and Demerits of the 'America First' Trade Policy, Maeil Business News, Feb,. 2018
• KORUS FTA renegotiations, what to prepare?, Maeil Business News, Jan., 2018
• KORUS FTA renegotiations, highly strategic approach is needed, Maeil Business News, July, 2017
• There is no Omnipotent Candidate, Financial News, June, 2017
• How to prepare for the KORUS FTA renegotiations, Donga Weekly, Feb., 2017
• Korean Diaspora, who are they?, Seoul Shimun, Dec., 2016
• How to respond to the aggressive Trade Team of the U.S., Chosun Biz, Dec., 2016
• Trump, Radical trade measures unlikely due to check and balance of the Congress, Economy Chosun, Nov 2016
• What is meant for the Paris Climate Change Agreement, Seoul Shimun, Oct 2016
• Will the U.S. turn to the protectionism?, Seoul Shimun, Sep 2016
• Now, it is Pyeongchang and Gangleung!. Seoul Shimun, Aug 2016
• The growth pains of the European integration of BREXIT, Seoul Shimun, July 2016
• International Cooperation for the DPRK's human rights protection, Seoul Shimun, June 2016
• Technology progress and the Future of Work, Seoul Shimun, May 2016,
• Changing trade environment and opportunity to innovate, Seoul Shimun, Mar 2016
• Global refugee crises and international cooperation, Seoul Shimun, Feb 2016
• A View from Geneva on DPRK's Human Rights Situation, Kyunghyang Shimun, Jun. 2015
• International Cooperation for the Quarantine Measures against MERS, Maeil Business News, Jun. 2015
• Our Humble Hero, Captain Chun Jeyong, Kyunghyang Shimun, Sep. 2014
• Innovation Dream of the Geneva's Watch Industry, Munwha Daily, May, 2014
• Now We Are Heading to Geneva, Munwha Daily, May, 2013
• 'Arab Spring' Urgently Needed for Humanitarian Assistance, Kyunghyang Shimun, May 2013
• Trust the Creativity of Koreans, Hankyung Daily, May 2013
• Refuge Crises and the UNHCR, Kyunghyang Shimun, Oct. 2012
• Expecting the Running of Korean Movies on US Screens, Maeil Business News, Nov. 2011
• Korea-US FTA and Brood Parasitism, Maeil Business News, Aug. 2011
• Korea-EU FTA, A Leapfrog for 21st Century, Administration's Focus, Jul-Aug 2011

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