NEWS & EVENTS

  On October 19 at 6:30 p.m., ASOK hosted a dinner at Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun to welcome the leadership of The Korea Society. The event was attended by Kathleen Stephens and Philip Goldberg, former U.S. Ambassadors to South Korea; Abraham Kim, President and CEO of The Korea Society; Hae Kyung “Haley” Ahn, Senior Advisor for Outreach at The Korea Society; Andrew Gately, Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul; and Michael Kim, Commercial Officer, along with ASOK members. The dinner provided a meaningful opportunity to strengthen ties between ASOK and The Korea Society and to build a foundation for expanded U.S.–Korea economic and trade cooperation. ASOK will continue to serve as a bridge between U.S. state and regional government representative offices and Korean companies and institutions, taking an active role in promoting economic cooperation and strengthening exchanges between the United States and Korea. #ASOK  # KoreaSociety  #Alabama #Georgia #Michigan #NewJersey #Ohio #TeamNEO #Tennessee  #Utah #Virginia #Williamson

  The SelectUSA Networking Reception 2026, jointly hosted by the Association of American State Offices in Korea (ASOK) and the U.S. Embassy in Korea, was held on September 16 at 6:00 p.m. on the rooftop of the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun. The event brought together more than 170 guests, including Korean companies currently operating in the United States or exploring investment opportunities there, as well as law firms, bank and professional organizations providing expertise and advisory services for U.S. investment. The evening opened with a warm and witty welcome from Hiro Rodriguez, Executive Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Advocacy Center, followed by remarks from Hee-jung Shin, Chairperson of ASOK. The program also featured introductions of ASOK’s members, who serve as trusted guides for Korean companies entering the U.S. market, along with representatives from the U.S. Embassy and professional partners. Chairperson Hee-jung Shin shared a message that captured the spirit of ASOK: “In an age when yesterday’s innovation quickly becomes today’s old news, what companies truly need is a trusted friend to navigate the journey with them. ASOK has been that trusted friend for Korean companies already in the United States and for those preparing to enter the U.S. market, and we will continue to do our very best to support their successful global growth.” A wonderful evening of meaningful connections, new opportunities, and a shared commitment to strengthening the U.S.–Korea business partnership.   #Alabama #Arizona #Arkansas #Fairfax County #Georgia #Indiana #Kentucky #New Jersey #North Carolina #Ohio #Pennsylvania #SanAntonio #South Carolina #Tennessee #TeamNEO #Virginia #Utah #Washington #WillamsonCounty    

On August 24, 2026, the Association of U.S. States in Korea (ASOK), the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), and the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) held a roundtable meeting to explore ways to cooperate in expanding trade between South Korea and the United States and supporting U.S. companies’ entry into the South Korean market. Each organization plans to collaborate closely throughout the entire process, focusing on generating tangible business results and utilizing this as a sustainable business platform to significantly expand trade between Korean and U.S. companies. # KOIMA #KITA #ASOK #Michigan #Maryland #Virginia #Alabama #Utah #Arizona #Georgia #Tennessee #Pennsylvania #California

From June 23 to 25, Utah and Georgia—two member states of the Association of U.S. States in Korea (ASOK)—participated in the “2026 Korea Import Expo (Korea Import Trade Fair)” held at COEX in Seoul. At this expo, Utah supported the participation of two companies—“Taste Artisan Chocolate” and “Stampin’ Up!”—allowing them to meet numerous potential buyers and deepen their understanding of the Korean market. Meanwhile, The Georgia Department of Economic Development participated on behalf of six local food and beverage companies, engaging with approximately 50 domestic importers and distributors over the three-day event and conducting six one-on-one B2B meetings. This effort generated trade leads across various sectors, including fresh agricultural products, nuts, cooking oils, and dairy ingredients. In particular, Georgia’s “Muscadine,” which garnered attention as a high-polyphenol ingredient for food and cosmetics, attracted significant interest. This event served as a meaningful stepping stone for both states to establish new business relationships with top-tier Korean buyers and create tangible trade opportunities.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shinhan Bank, and ASOK (Association of State Governments in Korea) were invited to operate consultation booths and present on the key industrial characteristics and business environments of major U.S. states, as well as insights for companies entering the U.S. market. ASOK Secretary General Andy Hoonjoo Lee delivered the presentation and led the Q&A session. The event was held in the Council Conference Room on the second basement level of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In addition to ASOK, the U.S. Embassy in Korea, the Korea Technology Finance Corporation, Sejong Law Firm, Samjong KPMG, and Shinhan Bank provided information and consultations in their respective fields to companies considering expansion into the U.S.

  As part of the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit, ASOK (Association of American State Offices in Korea) was proud to co-host the U.S.–ROK Investment Networking Reception on May 4, 2026, at 101 Constitution in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Seoul. This special evening brought together Korean companies already operating in the United States, prospective investors exploring future opportunities, and key economic development leaders — all committed to strengthening Korea–U.S. investment ties. Representatives from 14 of ASOK’s 28 member states traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the SelectUSA 2026 Summit, and we were honored to welcome representatives from: Arizona · Arkansas · Fairfax County · Georgia · Kentucky · Michigan · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Tennessee · Utah · Virginia · Williamson County A sincere thank you to our outstanding sponsors whose partnership made this event possible: Bank of Hope · Burr & Forman · CBRE · PKF Plenus · ARCO · Nelson Mullins · GreshamSmith · The Livingston Group · Aprio · Gray Construction · JE Dunn · BMCO With more than 200 attendees filling the room, the energy throughout the evening reflected the continued momentum of Korean investment in the United States across advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, EV batteries, energy, biotech, and other strategic industries. Korea continues to be one of the United States’ strongest and most dynamic investment partners, and ASOK remains proud to serve as a bridge connecting our two countries through investment, partnership, and opportunity.   #BankofHope #BurrForman #CBRE #PKFPlenus #ARCO #NelsonMullins #GreshamSmith #TheLivingstonGroup #Aprio #GrayConstruction #JEDunn #BMCO

SelectUSA Kickoff Reception - Opening Opportunities for U.S. Entry! On April 7th, ASOK, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, successfully hosted the SelectUSA Kickoff Reception on the 39th floor of Parnas Tower. Special thanks to Yulchon Law Firm for providing the venue and to Chargé James Heller for his insightful remarks. SelectUSA serves as a platform offering opportunities for companies considering entry into the U.S. market, as well as providing valuable insights from Korean companies that have already succeeded there. This event held special significance as it attracted approximately 170 attendees—the largest turnout since the SelectUSA Kickoff Reception began—providing valuable networking opportunities. Since 1989, ASOK has been a steadfast partner in the investment journey of Korean companies in the United States. ASOK remains committed to supporting businesses in their global growth. Thank you for your interest and participation!

March 30, ASOK, in collaboration with KOTRA and the U.S. Embassy's Commercial Service, successfully hosted the U.S. Investment Environment Seminar. Approximately 150 attendees gathered to hear ASOK's Chairman, Shin Hee-jung, vividly introduce the diverse industries and regional advantages in the United States. Chairman Shin highlighted key regions in the semiconductor industry, including New York, Indiana, Williamson County in Texas, and Arizona, emphasizing their pivotal roles in the current U.S. semiconductor landscape. She then provided an in-depth overview of the energy sector, showcasing opportunities in nuclear and electric vehicle battery industries in South Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, and Michigan. In the automotive sector, Georgia and San Antonio, Texas were introduced as core hubs driving the growth of the U.S. automotive industry, particularly in electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing. In the shipbuilding industry, Mississippi was spotlighted, while the strengths of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey as hubs for pharmaceuticals and life sciences were discussed. Additionally, the briefing featured Fairfax County, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Ohio as representatives of the aerospace and defense sectors. Washington State was also introduced as a key hub for the U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) industry, highlighting its strong ecosystem of leading technology companies, research institutions, and innovation-driven workforce. Finally, Utah was introduced as a central hub for critical minerals, along with a detailed explanation of the incentives offered by state and local governments that Korean companies should consider when entering the U.S. market. This briefing served as a valuable opportunity for Korean companies aspiring to enter the U.S. market, providing essential insights into the business environment of various industries and the types and criteria of incentives available from state governments. We hope many companies seize this information to capture new opportunities in the U.S. market!

The Association of State Offices in Korea (ASOK) participated in InterBattery 2026, held from March 11 to 13 at COEX in Seoul, where it operated a U.S. Pavilion and facilitated meaningful business engagement with domestic and international stakeholders in the battery industry. This year’s participation is particularly significant as ASOK independently secured and operated seven exhibition booths, marking a shift from a previously limited participation model to a more strategic and expanded, association-led approach. The U.S. Pavilion brought together seven U.S. state and partner organizations, including Tennessee, Kentucky, San Antonio, Arizona, the Northern Mariana Islands, NattBatt, and Gresham Smith. Key participating states—Tennessee, Kentucky, San Antonio, Arizona, and the Northern Mariana Islands—highlighted their roles as major hubs in the battery industry, which supports a wide range of sectors including defense, electric vehicles (EV), and energy storage systems (ESS). They provided in-depth insights into their respective industrial environments, incentive programs, and battery value chain development. In addition, NattBatt presented an overview and outlook of the U.S. battery industry, while Gresham Smith shared its expertise and project experience in battery facility design. These efforts enabled active and practical networking with Korean companies exploring entry into the North American market. The event also served as a meaningful opportunity for industry professionals to reconnect after nearly a year, fostering substantive discussions and potential collaboration. Throughout the exhibition, the ASOK pavilion attracted thousands of industry professionals and visitors, generating strong interest. Notably, the pavilion went beyond information sharing, leading to on-site investment consultations and partnership discussions, ultimately resulting in tangible business outcomes. Building on the momentum of its participation in InterBattery 2026, ASOK plans to further expand its presence in major industry exhibitions and strengthen its role as a strategic partner and gateway for Korean companies seeking to enter the North American market.