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ECCK Successfully Launches Family Friendly Future Forum to Address Korea’s Demographic Challenges
The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) officially launched the Family Friendly Future Forum (FFFF) on November 26, 2024, under the theme “Success Factor, Family.” This forum brings together stakeholders from various sectors to collaboratively address Korea’s pressing demographic issues, including low birth rates and an aging population.
Co-chaired by Merck Biopharma Korea and Adecco Korea, the FFFF is supported by founding members such as Siemens Logistics Korea, GSK Korea, Novartis Korea, and the International School of Busan. The event drew over 70 participants, including business leaders, policymakers, medical experts, demographers, and media representatives, to discuss actionable and sustainable strategies for fostering family-friendly corporate policies.
During his opening remarks, Stefan Ernst, Secretary-General of the ECCK, stressed that balancing work and family is no longer an individual challenge but a shared societal and corporate responsibility. He highlighted how family-friendly policies not only improve talent attraction and retention but also contribute to long-term organizational efficiency and resilience.
The inaugural ceremony commenced with congratulatory messages from Seulki Choi, Standing Commissioner of Korea’s Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy, and Walter van Hattum, Minister Counsellor and Head of Trade and Economic Section at the EU Delegation to Korea. These remarks set the tone for the day by underscoring the importance of collaboration across sectors.
The forum featured a keynote address by Professor Youngtae Cho from Seoul National University’s Population Policy Research Center, titled “Beyond Goodwill: Why Family-Friendly Policies Are Essential for Employee Retention.” Professor Cho emphasized the need to view demographic changes not as crises but as opportunities to innovate and strengthen organizational culture. He urged businesses to implement tailored policies aligned with government initiatives to support employees and their families, fostering a sustainable corporate environment as a key competitive advantage.
A panel discussion followed, moderated by Insill Yi , President of the Korea Institute for Future Human Resources. Panelists included Christoph Hamann, CEO of Merck Biopharma Korea; Jaroslaw Jankowski, Managing Director of Siemens Logistics Korea; Dr. Jungryeol Lee, Professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine; Seulki Choi, Standing Commissioner of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy; and Prof. Cho Youngtae. The discussion explored diverse perspectives from the corporate, governmental, and academic sectors on family-friendly policies, focusing on identifying challenges and proposing innovative solutions.
The forum concluded with a call to action for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to promote societal awareness and encourage widespread adoption of family-friendly policies. As the ECCK spearheads these initiatives, the FFFF is poised to serve as a vital platform for developing innovative solutions to address Korea’s demographic challenges while enhancing workplace sustainability.
ECCK Successfully Launches Family Friendly Future Forum to Address Korea’s Demographic Challenges
The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) officially launched the Family Friendly Future Forum (FFFF) on November 26, 2024, under the theme “Success Factor, Family.” This forum brings together stakeholders from various sectors to collaboratively address Korea’s pressing demographic issues, including low birth rates and an aging population.
Co-chaired by Merck Biopharma Korea and Adecco Korea, the FFFF is supported by founding members such as Siemens Logistics Korea, GSK Korea, Novartis Korea, and the International School of Busan. The event drew over 70 participants, including business leaders, policymakers, medical experts, demographers, and media representatives, to discuss actionable and sustainable strategies for fostering family-friendly corporate policies.
During his opening remarks, Stefan Ernst, Secretary-General of the ECCK, stressed that balancing work and family is no longer an individual challenge but a shared societal and corporate responsibility. He highlighted how family-friendly policies not only improve talent attraction and retention but also contribute to long-term organizational efficiency and resilience.
The inaugural ceremony commenced with congratulatory messages from Seulki Choi, Standing Commissioner of Korea’s Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy, and Walter van Hattum, Minister Counsellor and Head of Trade and Economic Section at the EU Delegation to Korea. These remarks set the tone for the day by underscoring the importance of collaboration across sectors.
The forum featured a keynote address by Professor Youngtae Cho from Seoul National University’s Population Policy Research Center, titled “Beyond Goodwill: Why Family-Friendly Policies Are Essential for Employee Retention.” Professor Cho emphasized the need to view demographic changes not as crises but as opportunities to innovate and strengthen organizational culture. He urged businesses to implement tailored policies aligned with government initiatives to support employees and their families, fostering a sustainable corporate environment as a key competitive advantage.
A panel discussion followed, moderated by Insill Yi , President of the Korea Institute for Future Human Resources. Panelists included Christoph Hamann, CEO of Merck Biopharma Korea; Jaroslaw Jankowski, Managing Director of Siemens Logistics Korea; Dr. Jungryeol Lee, Professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine; Seulki Choi, Standing Commissioner of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy; and Prof. Cho Youngtae. The discussion explored diverse perspectives from the corporate, governmental, and academic sectors on family-friendly policies, focusing on identifying challenges and proposing innovative solutions.
The forum concluded with a call to action for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to promote societal awareness and encourage widespread adoption of family-friendly policies. As the ECCK spearheads these initiatives, the FFFF is poised to serve as a vital platform for developing innovative solutions to address Korea’s demographic challenges while enhancing workplace sustainability.