Contact Information

  • Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

  • Alt Contact:  Larry Williams, Assistant Director International Trade, 206/256-6129

Gov. Christine Gregoire co-chairs third annual Korea-Pacific U.S. States Joint Trade Conference in Seattle

For Immediate Release: October 13, 2005

SEATTLE - Oct. 13, 2005 - Gov. Christine Gregoire is co-chairing the Korea- Pacific U.S. States 3rd Annual Joint Trade Conference today and tomorrow at the Westin Hotel in Seattle. The theme for the event is �US-Korea Opportunities in Interactive Media and Wireless Technologies.� The governor will address conference delegates this evening.

Other industries such as aerospace will also be represented. Representing the Pacific U.S. States, the Conference is co-chaired by Shane Kim, General Manager of Microsoft Game Studios. Korea�s Conference chairs are Mr. Jae-Chul Kim, Chairman & CEO, KITA/KUSEC and Mr. Jin Roy Ryu, Chairman & CEO, Poongsan Conference participants include notable Korean and U.S. executives involved in business development, distinguished government officials, several leading venture capitalists, and Young Se Kim, CEO and Founder of Innodesign.

�South Korea is a long-standing friend of our state and region as well as an excellent trading partner,� said Gov. Gregoire. �Last year, Washington exported more than $2 billion worth of goods to South Korea. They have always seen the mobile phone as the centerpiece of communications and entertainment. Seattle is the perfect venue for an interactive media/wireless event that brings these two countries together.�

Korean companies such as SK Telecom, KTF, Samsung, and LG Electronics have pushed technology to create advances such as DMD (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) and WiBro (Wireless Broadcasting). Similarly, Washington-based companies such as Microsoft, Nintendo, PopCap, RealNetworks/GameHouse, Valve, and Wild Tangent have pushed the advancement of game development.

Washington State�s economy has a long history of international trade and investment. In the game industry, Asia has been a notable partner since 1982 when Nintendo of America moved their U.S. headquarters to the Seattle area. More recently, Asian companies in the handheld entertainment field have chosen the Seattle area for their U.S. offices including Dwango Wireless, Index Corporation, with its purchase of Mobliss, and Square Enix with its purchase of UI Evolution. Companies locating in Washington can take advantage of the six overseas trade offices the state has to gain market access and partners in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Mexico and Europe.

To find information about registration or sponsorship for the US/Korea Joint Trade Conference, go to: www.cityofseattle.net/tda/evKoreaPac5TradeConference05.htm. Sponsors for this event include: Port of Seattle, Korean Air, Microsoft, Ignition, Qpass, AOL, Cascadia Capital, Port of Tacoma, Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, Guppy Games, Tooned-In, Game Instinct, UW Executive Education, Washington Wine Commission, Community Network Services, Pacific Northwest Aerospace Association, and Venture All Stars.

Conference Chairs:

Washington State Gov. Christine Gregoire, and Co-Chair Shane Kim, GM Microsoft Game Studios

Speakers:

Braxton Woodham, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Infospace Mobile
Bill Valenti, Executive Vice President, Melodeo
Marianne Marck, Vice President of Engineering, Walt Disney Internet Group
Chetan Sharma, Chetan Sharma Consulting
Han Hoon, Executive Vice President, KTF
Jung Uck Seo, Chairman, e-Trade Facilitation Center
Tae-Ki Chun, President, SK Telecom International, Inc.

Host Advisory Committee:

Honorary Chair: Ike Lee, Venture Partner, Ignition and Business Ambassador for Washington State

Nancy Anderson, Vice President and Deputy General Council, Microsoft Corporation
Laura Peterson, Vice President International Relations, The Boeing Company
William Stafford, President, Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle
Chetan Sharma, Principal, Chetan Sharma Consulting
Tim Reha, CEO, Venture All Stars
Heidi Schumann, CEO, Fluency Group

# # #