Gov. Whitmer visits Korea; Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution among attendees

Talks cover mobility, battery and advanced manufacturing supply chains

KITA chief calls for stronger Korea-Michigan ties

Whitmer cites skilled workforce, supply chain as foundation for cooperation

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (second from left) attends the opening ceremony of LG Energy Solution's Lansing, Michigan factory on Aug. 18 (local time). From left: Hong Sang-woo, consul general in Chicago; Governor Whitmer; Doug Burgum, US Secretary of the Interior; Kim Dong-myung, CEO of LG Energy Solution; and Choi Dae-sik, head of LG Energy Solution's Michigan operations. [LG Energy Solution]
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (second from left) attends the opening ceremony of LG Energy Solution's Lansing, Michigan factory on Aug. 18 (local time). From left: Hong Sang-woo, consul general in Chicago; Governor Whitmer; Doug Burgum, US Secretary of the Interior; Kim Dong-myung, CEO of LG Energy Solution; and Choi Dae-sik, head of LG Energy Solution's Michigan operations. [LG Energy Solution]

South Korean battery and auto parts companies met with representatives from Michigan — the heart of the US automotive industry — to discuss expanding cooperation in next-generation mobility and advanced manufacturing. Companies operating in the state, including Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution, attended and exchanged views on supply chains and the investment environment.

Korea International Trade Association (KITA) hosted a luncheon Monday at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as the guest of honor.

The Korean side included KITA Chairman Yoon Jin-sik, members of the KITA board, and 19 business leaders from battery, auto parts and advanced manufacturing companies — among them Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution and Hanse Mobility — as well as members of the Korea-US Economic Council (KUSEC).

Michigan sent a 15-member delegation led by Governor Whitmer, including officials from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

KUSEC is a private-sector economic cooperation channel established in 1973 to expand economic ties between the two countries, with KITA serving as its secretariat.

Michigan, centered on Detroit, is home to a dense concentration of US automakers and parts suppliers. In recent years the state has been broadening its industrial base beyond traditional automaking into electric vehicles, batteries and advanced manufacturing.

Korean companies including LG Energy Solution have been operating production facilities or making investments in Michigan, deepening the industrial links between the two sides.

"Michigan is the traditional home of the automotive industry and is emerging as a hub for next-generation mobility, batteries and advanced manufacturing," KITA Chairman Yoon said. "I hope Governor Whitmer will continue to take an interest in and support efforts to build an even stronger partnership between Korean companies and Michigan in supply chain stability, trade and investment."

Governor Whitmer, a Democrat, has made attracting investment in the automotive industry and battery and clean-energy supply chains a centerpiece of her economic policy.

Whitmer responded in kind, saying Michigan is ready to develop next-generation technologies with Korean companies, drawing on the state's skilled workforce, advanced manufacturing capabilities and robust supply chains. "Based on the close partnership that Michigan and Korea have built over decades, I look forward to continuing to open up future industries together with Korean companies," she said.

Michigan has been stepping up support for the future mobility industry. On Friday, Governor Whitmer announced $1.5 million in funding for 10 mobility projects covering electric vehicle charging, autonomous driving and hydrogen. The initiative is designed to accelerate commercialization by testing new technologies on real roads and at actual facilities.


kwater@heraldcorp.com