○ Urgent diplomatic outreach following aborted “martial law” declaration
– Delivered a message of confidence in Korea’s economic credibility and investment stability
○ The sole Korean politician/local government leader to represent the Korean economy at the Davos Forum
– Engaged in consecutive meetings with key figures from the “Trump circle,” including Sarah Sanders, Governor of Arkansas, and Gary Cohn, IBM Vice Chairman and former White House National Economic Council Director
– Personally wrote “Trust in Korea!” on his business cards and handed them out to underscore Korea’s economic resilience
○ Continued diplomatic engagement after returning to Korea, including a meeting with the Canadian Ambassador to Korea and the hosting of an investment roundtable with foreign enterprises

Amid growing concerns over a national leadership vacuum following the aborted declaration of martial law, Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim’s decisive crisis management leadership has drawn significant attention.

On the night of December 3, Governor Kim was the first to publicly denounce the illegality of the martial law declaration and voice his opposition. At approximately 11:40 PM, he posted on social media: “This is an outrageous act that sets Korea back 45 years. Lift the emergency martial law immediately.” He swiftly convened an emergency leadership meeting and, despite the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s directive to shut down the provincial government offices, firmly refused, stating that he would take full responsibility.

The next day, his first official response to the martial law crisis was to send an “urgent letter” to more than 2,500 global political leaders, local government leaders, heads of international organizations, ambassadors, and foreign investors.

“The situation in the Republic of Korea has been effectively stabilized at the national level, and the people have regained a sense of security, resuming their daily lives. The Korean people are continuing with their everyday routines, and all sectors of the economy and industry are operating without disruption.”

“Gyeonggi Province remains committed to providing a stable and secure environment for foreign businesses. I encourage you to place your trust in Korea and Gyeonggi Province as you continue your operations.”

This letter, sent on December 4, immediately after the lifting of martial law, underscored Governor Kim’s swift diplomatic response to reassure international stakeholders. By emphasizing Korea’s resilience, Governor Kim sought to dispel concerns among foreign investors, stating, “As the governor representing 14.1 million residents of Gyeonggi Province and a political leader of Korea, I personally assure you that your business and the Korean economy will continue to thrive together.”

The central message of his diplomatic outreach was clear: “Trust in Korea.” Governor Kim’s diplomatic initiative elicited swift responses from world leaders and the international community. Klaus Schwab, Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), sent a letter on December 9, stating, “I am very pleased to see that the resolution to lift martial law has been implemented peacefully… As a long-time observer of Korea, I have no doubt that the country will overcome this challenge and once again demonstrate its resilience.”

Ambassador Pieter van der Fluit of the Netherlands, Ambassador Bruno Jans of Belgium, and Nguyen Duc Trung, Party Secretary of Vietnam’s Nghe An Province, also sent letters of appreciation, expressing confidence in Korea. A senior diplomat in Seoul remarked, “Governor Kim’s sincere letter deeply resonated with the diplomatic community in Korea.”

■ Reaffirming the Strong U.S.-Korea Alliance by Meeting the U.S. Ambassador; Swift Economic Engagement Through Diplomacy

Following his “letter diplomacy,” Governor Kim prioritized meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Korea to reaffirm the “strong” Korea-U.S. alliance amid the martial law crisis.

On December 24, he met with U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, discussing international perspectives on Korea’s political situation, including the martial law crisis and the impeachment proceedings, as the second Trump administration was set to take office.

In 2025, Governor Kim has continued diplomatic engagement with foreign business organizations to help restore Korea’s global credibility and reaffirm confidence in its economic resilience.

On January 8, he visited the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK), urging foreign businesses to remain active in Korea and continue investing.

Meeting with AMCHAM Chairman James Kim, he emphasized Korea’s economic resilience and potential to American businesses. In discussions with ECCK Chairman Philippe Van Hoof, he explored economic cooperation between European companies and Gyeonggi Province, highlighting the KRW 73.36 trillion (approx. USD 55 billion) in investments Gyeonggi has attracted during his tenure as well as collaboration in semiconductors, future mobility, and biotechnology.

On January 16, he met with French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux, discussing strategic partnerships between Gyeonggi Province and France in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and startups. His efforts bore fruit when François Jackow, Chairman of Air Liquide, visited Gyeonggi’s provincial government offices and announced a USD 25 million (approx. KRW 35 billion) investment.

■ The Only Korean Politician to Attend the Davos Forum; Proclaiming “Trust in Korea” Before Leaders and Entrepreneurs Across the Globe

Governor Kim’s diplomatic engagements culminated at the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, from January 18 to 24. Widely regarded as the “Olympics of the global economy,” the Davos Forum is one of the most influential international conferences. As the only Korean politician and local government official present, he effectively represented Korea’s economic interests, earning him the title of “Korea’s Economic Ambassador.”

In a special session titled “A Conversation with Governor Dong Yeon Kim,” he provided an exclusive briefing to global media leaders, marking the first-ever media briefing by a Korean opposition leader hosted at the Davos Forum. Over 20 senior editors and diplomatic correspondents from the U.S., U.K., China, United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia participated, reflecting keen global interest in Korea’s situation.

Using a Korean proverb, Governor Kim stated, “Just as the ground hardens after rain, Korea’s democracy will emerge stronger from this crisis, and our economy will prosper,” emphasizing the Korean economy’s potential and resilience.

Throughout the forum, he consistently underscored these features of the Korean economy. He later revealed that he personally handed out business cards with the handwritten phrase “Trust in Korea!”

■ Substantial Diplomatic Achievements From Sequential Meetings With “Trump Circle” Figures

Rather than focusing on the Trump administration’s inauguration marketing like other politicians, Governor Kim chose substantial diplomacy at Davos to restore Korea’s credibility. President Trump also showed great interest in Davos, providing a video speech to the forum.

At the Davos Forum, Governor Kim’s efforts in diplomatic engagement yielded remarkable outcomes, including meetings with Gary Cohn, IBM Vice Chairman and former White House National Economic Council Director. Cohn, an acquaintance of Governor Kim from when he served as Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister, welcomed the meeting after seven years and pledged to act as a bridge between Gyeonggi Province and the Trump administration. Governor Kim also discussed cooperation in battery technology, startups, and the automotive industry with Sarah Sanders, Governor of Arkansas, as well as future developments in Korea-U.S. relations.

He met with the president of S&P Global Ratings to share insights regarding Korea’s international credit standing, engaging in an in-depth conversation on Korea’s economic credibility. Governor Kim also engaged in exchanges with key international figures such as Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President, Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, and Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

He further held a series of meetings with global business leaders, including Adam Goldstein, co-founder of Archer, a U.S. company known for developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and Chuck Robbins, Chairman of Cisco Systems, urging them to invest in Gyeonggi Province.

■ Continued Diplomatic Outreach After Return: Meeting With Canadian Ambassador

After returning to Korea, Governor Kim met with Canadian Ambassador Tamara Mawhinney on January 6 to discuss measures for addressing potential trade policy shifts following the inauguration of Trump’s second term. They reaffirmed the two countries’ enduring partnership in economic and industrial sectors, emphasizing their importance as mutually beneficial partners amid the trade risks stemming from the U.S.

On February 10, Governor Kim will host the Foreign Investment Roundtable at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex to promote foreign investment in Gyeonggi Province, continuing his diplomatic efforts and once again proclaiming, “Trust in Korea!”