Ko Sang-goo, President of the World Federation of Korean Associations, has been elected as the first private sector Chairperson of the Steering Committee in the history of the World Korean Community Leaders Convention. This marks the first time a member of the overseas Korean community, rather than a government official, has taken the helm of the committee, signaling a symbolic shift toward a private-led operational model for the convention.

The Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) held a steering committee meeting for the World Korean Community Leaders Convention online on March 9 to conduct the election. Out of 24 total committee members, 22 participated in the vote. Ko Sang-goo secured 16 votes, defeating candidate Ko Tak-hee, who received 3 votes, with 3 abstentions, to become the inaugural private sector Chairperson.

The World Korean Community Leaders Convention is a premier global event where presidents of Korean associations from around the world gather to discuss pressing issues within the overseas Korean community and seek collaborative solutions. Last year’s convention was held in Seoul from September 30 to October 1, drawing approximately 300 current association presidents and executives from regional federations across 60 countries.

Historically, the chairmanship of the steering committee has been held by government figures, such as the Chairman of the Overseas Koreans Foundation or the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency. However, following an amendment to the operating regulations during a committee meeting on February 12, the OKA transitioned the convention's governance to a private-led system to empower the overseas Korean community to lead the event. The election of Chairman Ko Sang-goo is the first manifestation of this new policy.

The newly elected Chairperson Ko Sang-goo is the Chairman of K&K Trading, which operates and manages over 150 K-Market stores across Vietnam. He has been a prominent figure in the overseas Korean community, having served as the 10th President of the Korean Association in Hanoi and the 2nd President of the Federation of Korean Associations in Vietnam. Additionally, he has served as the Vice Chair of the Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council and the Chairman of the 18th World Korean Business Convention (Hansang).

In his acceptance speech, Chairman Ko stated, "A new era has begun where the World Korean Community Leaders Convention moves beyond government-led operations to be driven by the strength of the overseas Korean community itself. I will develop this convention into a central platform for a global diaspora network that connects Korean communities worldwide, far beyond a mere one-off event."

He further emphasized, "I will work on various initiatives to enhance the rights of overseas Koreans and develop our community, including expanding voting rights, establishing a collaborative system for crisis response, and nurturing next-generation leaders. By uniting the strength of 7.5 million overseas Koreans, we will open a new chapter for the global Korean society."

He also pledged his commitment to cooperation and solidarity, adding, "I will not be a chairperson who wields power, but rather a 'chief volunteer' working from the humblest position for the sake of our 7.5 million compatriots."

With this election, the World Korean Community Leaders Convention is expected to take a significant leap forward as a private-led global cooperation platform, connecting 7.5 million overseas Koreans across 180 countries.

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