A roundtable discussion at the 4th Asia Future Forum at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, Oct. 30, 2013.
The theme was “Era of Inclusive Growth: Innovation of Enterprise and Society”.
From left to right, participated in Lee Keun, Professor, Seoul National University Winfried Weber, Professor,
Mannheim University of Applied Sciences and, Yao Yang, Professor, Peking University, Kim Kwang Doo, President,
The institute for the future of State. (by Kang Chang-gwang, staff photographer)



On Oct. 22-23, political leaders, scholars, entrepreneurs, and citizens will seek solutions to growth-centric economic models
By Kim Hae-seung, staff reporter
Now in its fifth year, the Asia Future Forum, hosted by the Hankyoreh Media Group, is being held under the
theme of “Human-Focused Economy: How Corporations and Society Can Work Together.” This year’s
theme captures the introspection that has become part of public discourse in South Korean society following the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry.

The forum seeks to move beyond the growth-centered paradigm that focuses on capital and markets,
beyond the dangerous society that is ruled by selfishness and greed. The forum is a place for exploring the
ideas and actions that are necessary to change the old system, which threatens jobs and public safety.

On Oct. 22, the first day of the forum, Tarja Halonen, former president of Finland, will deliver the keynote
address introducing the experiences and policies of Northern Europe, which have been developed through
“trust capital” of the members of those societies.

After this, Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and one of America’s
best-known progressive economists, will examine the pros and cons of the Anglo-American capitalism that
was imported to East Asia.

Next, these two keynote speakers will take part in a roundtable discussion with Chung Un-chan, chairman
of the Korea Institute for Shared Growth and former Prime Minister of Korea, and Kim Kwang-doo,
president of the Institute for the Future of State.

During the plenary session on the afternoon of the same day, there will be a discussion of people-centered
economy, which is expanding at the grass roots level. Min Hyung-bae, mayor of the Gwangsan District of
Gwangju, will share his experience of setting up communities that encourage civic participation, including
local companies, social enterprises, and cooperative associations.

Juanjo Martin, professor at Mondragon University, will be presenting the success story of the Mondragon
Collective in Spain, which has created 80,000 jobs and annual revenue of 30 trillion won (US$28.83 billion).

Lars Danielsson, Swedish ambassador to South Korea and foreign minister of the country when the
government was led by social democrats, and Seoul MayorPark Won-soon, will be discussing models
and sharing experience with sustainable communities.

On Oct. 23, the second day of the forum, there will be breakout sessions on a variety of themes.
Participants will discuss new trends in corporate social responsibility, share examples of cooperation
between IT and local society, and talk about people-centered corporate culture. Speakers at the sessions
will include Hitoshi Suzuki, president of the Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies, and Leontien
Hasselman from the Netherlands, an expert in supply chain management. Before the breakout sessions,
the Hankyoreh Economic Research Institute (HERI) is hosting an awards ceremony for 30 corporations in
South Korea, Japan, and China that excel in the area of corporate social responsibility.

More information on the forum can be found here:

　 - See more at http://www.asiafutureforum.org/2014/eng/main.php
　 Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]