The Korean Association in Weihai, Shandong Province, serves as a central hub for the Korean community and businesses, offering support in daily living, economic exchanges, and youth volunteer activities.
Lee Seung-yong, the newly elected president, emphasizes the importance of sharing the difficulties faced by community members and businesses, focusing on delivering tangible assistance.
Founded in 1993 as the Weihai Korean Business Association, the Korean Association in Weihai has been dedicated to protecting the rights of expatriates and supporting the stable operations of Korean businesses in the region.
Lee is actively gathering feedback on the challenges faced by expatriates during their settlement process and seeking solutions in collaboration with relevant authorities. He also shares information on economic and industrial trends, as well as regulations and systems in China, to expand cooperation among businesses.
One of the key challenges Lee identifies is adapting to the changing business environment. He notes that rising costs, including labor, have weakened price competitiveness, and both businesses and expatriates have faced difficulties during the THAAD crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
While restoring the previous scale of the expatriate community may be challenging, Lee believes that the geographical proximity between Korea and Weihai continues to offer opportunities for logistics and tourism exchanges.
To this end, he is focused on connecting Korean and Weihai businesses, economic organizations, and relevant institutions to find practical cooperation opportunities in trade, investment, logistics, and tourism. Strengthening networks among businesses and conveying management challenges are also key activities.
Supporting future generations is another important aspect of the association's work. Through the 'Cheongda Bong' initiative, which encourages youth volunteerism, students and executives participate in street cleaning and visit senior centers and organizations for people with disabilities every Saturday. They also engage in collaborative creative activities, such as producing storybooks and calligraphy, to foster communication and teamwork among students.
The association continues to provide essential support for the daily lives of expatriates. The association's office offers a monthly consular service from the Korean Consulate General in Qingdao, alleviating the burden on expatriates who would otherwise need to travel to Qingdao for consular matters.
Additionally, the association reaches out to expatriates facing difficulties due to business failures or health issues, providing assistance and fostering community ties through safety education, business meetings, and Korea-China cultural and economic events.
Lee stated, "The Korean Association in Weihai is a purely volunteer organization. We will do our utmost to listen to the voices of Korean businesses and expatriates, share the difficulties they face locally, and provide practical help."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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