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To hear from TOP
Networking as
Companions Beyond Borders David-Pierre Jalicon,
President of the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Companions Beyond Borders David-Pierre Jalicon,
President of the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry
SPECIAL on
A chamber of commerce is a comprehensive economic organization in which business entities
in their respective regions gather to participate in activities.
Currently, there are chambers of commerce in more than 150 countries,
and they are registered as members of the International Chamber of Commerce
through the chamber of commerce in each country.
Since its establishment in 1986, the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry has represented
the business community in Korea and France.
President David-Pierre Jalicon has served as its president since 2011
and serves as a bridge for business cooperation and communication between the two countries.
We met and discussed his direction and vision of the economic network in Korea and France.
in their respective regions gather to participate in activities.
Currently, there are chambers of commerce in more than 150 countries,
and they are registered as members of the International Chamber of Commerce
through the chamber of commerce in each country.
Since its establishment in 1986, the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry has represented
the business community in Korea and France.
President David-Pierre Jalicon has served as its president since 2011
and serves as a bridge for business cooperation and communication between the two countries.
We met and discussed his direction and vision of the economic network in Korea and France.
Steady growth of the French Korean Chamber
of Commerce and Industry
On June 26 and 27, the network of French chambers of commerce from around the world gathered in one place. It was arranged for the CCI FI awards and the annual general meeting. At a gathering of representatives from chambers of commerce from around the world, the FKCCI was recognized for its outstanding efforts and ranked 5th in business sales and 6th in total sales among 119 chambers of commerce worldwide in 2022. It is especially significant for demonstrating that French companies are finding their place in the Korean market, which was stagnant in general during COVID-19.
“FKCCI is joined by more than 450 member companies. We provide expertise such as local laws and taxes needed to do business in Korea, as well as help them establish partnerships with Korean and global institutions and companies. We are also ready to offer any service they need and request at any time. Thanks to this, our members show a very high level of satisfaction.”
In particular, the FKCCI is focused on supporting various member companies that wish to explore opportunities in the Korean market. It provides equal support and benefits regardless of the size of the company, from large corporations to startups. FKCCI has also been robustly supporting Korean companies in entering the French market.
“Together with Cosmetic Valley, which has a close partnership with the FKCCI, we have conducted a number of programs, including learning expeditions (industrial inspections) such as a visit to GCC.EU, a European cosmetics cluster, and market research missions within various industries such as green tech, health tech, cosmetics, and retail. This February, a delegation of 15 French cultural companies in the fields of music, webtoons, and metaverse spent a week meeting and exploring with local industry insiders in Korea through the ICC immersion program.”
Such efforts are leading to an increase in member companies. Compared to last year, the number of members in the FKCCI increased by 5% to 450. Its online presence also grew rapidly in 2022, attracting over 37,000 followers across its social media channels and the website, which is a 6% increase over the previous year.
“While running multiple programs and vitalizing the community is an achievement in our software, we’ve also seen growth on the hardware side. As the office moved to Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul in 2020, we doubled the space of the office and business center. This allowed us to host over 60 events a year, such as business meetings, sector-specific committees, major annual and networking events, training sessions, and seminars.”
The mission of the FKCCI is to promote bilateral exchange, investment, and trade relations between France and Korea and to provide a variety of other consulting services for French companies in Korea to explore new business opportunities.
An architect who understands the value of Korean traditions
Professionally, President David-Pierre Jalicon of the FKCCI is an architect and CEO of D.P.J. & Partners, Ltd. The firm specializes in architecture, interior design, and engineering, and major projects in the portfolio include Sono Felice and Sono Village inside Vivaldi Park, Lycée Français de Séoul in Seorae Village, the Aqua Art Bridge near the Art Center, and the Central Point Bridge in front of the Marriott Hotel. Luxury brand stores such as Cartier and Louis Vuitton, as well as the French Consulate and the Embassy of Oman, are also works of Jalicon.
“It’s been more than 20 years since I came to Korea. The relationship that began in 1996 when I participated in designing the Korean high-speed rail is lasting for a long time. One major feature of my architecture is that it is based on Eastern philosophies. While studying for my Ph.D. in Philosophy of Art at the Panthéon-Sorbonne in Paris, I became interested in Eastern philosophies such as Taoism and fengshui, which naturally influenced my architectural design.”
When he was involved in the design of high-speed rail, he joined the Korean fengshui theorists with maps from the Joseon period. They traveled from Seoul to Busan to investigate how the railway would affect the surrounding area in terms of fengshui. Aqua Art Bridge was also designed based on geographical fengshui. The energy of fire starting from Gwanaksan Mountain was branching to Umyeonsan Mountain, so they let water flow there to cool it. His unique quality of being a Western architect who designs based on Eastern philosophies is evident throughout his work, which has been recognized with awards from the Académie des Beaux-Arts, the Villa Medicis Hors les Murs, and the Pierre Cardin Prize for Architecture.
“I feel very fortunate that many of the buildings I designed have been created and loved in Korea. This has allowed D.P.J. & Partners to achieve steady growth. These experiences are very helpful for my service as the president of the Chamber of Commerce. I know what is needed and what is difficult for French companies coming to Korea.”
The establishment of the Business Center at FKCCI also reflects his willingness to create a better business environment. Located within the offices of the FKCCI, it provides office space and a business network for small and medium-sized French companies that are active in Korea. Currently, more than 40 tenant companies at the center are receiving various services. He aspires to continue promoting a wide range of cooperation and exchanges between Korean and French companies.
Korea-France Business Support Service
- Customized administrative services for businesses (office space, business registration, visa issuance, commercial license, secretarial services, and VAT refunds)
- Organization of various events (seminars and forums) to support the establishment of the Korea-France business network
- Market discovery and research (Korean and French market research, market discovery, B2B meetings, marketing support)
- Support for member companies facing difficulties
Better networking for mutual success and cooperation
In February 2020, with the raging COVID-19, foreign businesses that had invested in Korea were concerned that they would have to withdraw from the Korean market. By the end of February, the pandemic spread to Europe and the United States, and the situation became more serious, with factories there stopping operation and stores closing. In such a situation, Korea succeeded in changing the perception of foreign companies by responding with an environment where they can maintain their businesses.
“At the time, we organized a webinar with over 500 people from the French government, parliament, and businesses on the Korean government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. It garnered significant interest, and the video received more than 2,000 views. The seminar video was seen in French-speaking regions such as Belgium, Quebec, and Africa.”
Korea’s business continuity amid the COVID-19 pandemic can be attributed to the government’s disease prevention guidelines, as well as its capacity as an IT powerhouse and the high level as a digital society. For global companies and investors, such advantages of Korea appeal as positive factors. The FKCCI also recognized this strength and strategically used it as necessary. In addition to publishing the only magazine in French and Korean, “Corée Affaires,” twice a year, it strengthened its online and offline networks by actively utilizing social media and newsletters to share the latest news about the Korea-France community, Korea-Franch relations, FKCCI, as well as economic, business, technology, and cultural issues.
“The more information there is, the wider the choice, and this gives companies the courage to challenge. France and South Korea have many things in common. They are both interested in fashion and beauty, have rich history and tradition, and are not afraid of change and challenge. We are confident that if we network and communicate based on such an understanding, the market will continue to expand.”
Tech for Good Tour 2022, which was concluded successfully for the third time last year, is one of the leading network events organized by the FKCCI. It has contributed to strengthening the business cooperation network between the two countries by introducing Korean tech startups, conducting business tours with Invest Seoul, and operating a joint booth at the Try Everything fair organized by the Seoul Metropolitan City.
“In addition to supporting the growth of companies that have already successfully established themselves in the Korean market, such as Air France, Adecco Korea, AGS Korea and L’Oréal Korea, we plan to empower startups, ventures, and other innovators in their challenges.
Including such bilateral cooperation, there is much potential for future cooperation between our member companies in various industries and the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), which is Korea’s leading public testing and certification organization, in promising industries such as aerospace, defense, mobility, secondary batteries, cybersecurity, and digital convergence devices. Based on KTL’s 57 years of test certification technology expertise and reliability, I hope that we can facilitate French companies to enter and grow successfully in Korea.
Finally, it is also critical to work closely with Korean companies in countries around the world that use French as the official language. I believe that the FKCCI should play a role in exploring ways for the two countries to grow together and work together.”
Finally, it is also critical to work closely with Korean companies in countries around the world that use French as the official language. I believe that the FKCCI should play a role in exploring ways for the two countries to grow together and work together.”
To conclude, President David-Pierre Jalicon remarked that the FKCCI continues to be a bridge and business companion to promote exchanges between Korean and French companies.
FKCCI Business Development Dept. Director Sonia CHAIEB
s.chaieb@fkcci.com
+82 (0)2-2268-9531
