By Lee Hana

President Moon Jae-in met with participants in the 16th World Korean Business Convention (WKBC) at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 28.

The president used this opportunity to speak with the business leaders about the current state of the Korean economy. Sixteen members of the WKBC were in attendance, including Head of the Overseas Koreans Foundation Han Woo-sung and Chairman Yim Do Jae of the WKBC.

"There are currently some 7.4 million overseas Koreans working in 190 different countries around the world," said the president. "All overseas Koreans are part of the Korean diaspora. They probably wish, more than anyone else, for Korea to become a country that they can proudly call their own."

"Since our new administration stepped in, many sections of Korean society have undergone a makeover, and, most importantly, our economy is starting to show signs of invigoration. Our economic growth rate hit 1.4 percent during the third quarter this year, and next year we will no doubt be able to reach our predicted growth rate of 3 percent," said the president.

"Despite difficulties, such as the North Korea nuclear weapons crisis and repercussions related to the deployment of THAAD, we have been able to reach this kind of economic growth, and I'm confident that our economy will flourish next year," he said.

"Some 820 overseas Koreans from 59 countries participated in the WKBC this year, and over 4,100 people came to sign up on the day of the convention," said Yim Do Jae, chairman of the WKBC. "Several contracts were signed in many different sectors, and some 90 young job-seekers landed jobs with overseas Korean companies. Talented Koreans will now have the opportunity to work alongside first generation overseas Koreans thanks to this year's convention," he said.

hlee10@korea.kr