The first half of 2026 has been a busy season for Canada-Korea relations and for CanCham Korea, marked by high-level engagement with Canadian government leaders, deeper industrial cooperation between Canada and Korea, and a full calendar of member events. Here’s a look back at what we accomplished so far.
Kicking Off the Year
CanCham Korea opened 2026 with our Annual General Meeting & Welcome Reception on January 23 at the Embassy of Canada, bringing members together to reflect on the past year and set priorities for the one ahead.
We are delighted to have another strong board in 2026 and would like to thank the following board members for their ongoing contribution to the chamber(in alphabetical order):
We would also like to extend a special welcome to Paula Chaeyeon Gil who joined our board in March. If you would like to also join the board, please reach out to us about eligibility.
We would also like to thank Hanyang University for providing two volunteers for three months this spring. Nahyeon Ju volunteered in a research capacity while JeongEun Ku created many of the social media posts you have seen recently. We will be receiving more volunteers from Hanyang University soon through this ongoing partnership.
In June, we also welcomed our new Business Development Manager Marie Frenette. Marie is from Nova Scotia, Canada and has had a 20 year long career in Korea. Marie volunteered for the chamber for two years before joining the team. Marie is focused on helping the chamber grow membership and implementing solutions that allow the CanCham team dedicate more time to serving our members and expanding the Canadian-Korean relationship.
Sustainability and Industry Dialogue
On February 5, CanCham Korea co-hosted a roundtable on Sustainable Building Practices with WSP Korea, drawing more than 60 industry professionals. The discussion covered LEED certifications, ESG metrics, regulatory considerations, and the balance between sustainability goals and project financing, a timely conversation as Korea’s building sector continues to evolve.
Later that month, members welcomed the news that Air Canada would resume its direct Incheon–Montreal route, starting June 5 with four flights weekly through October, restoring convenient access between Korea and Eastern Canada.
Networking and Regional Cooperation
On March 19th, CanCham Korea joined Trade & Invest British Columbia Office in Korea and Embassy of Canada to South Korea in co-hosting the webinar “D-Wave x BTQ: Quantum Meets Industry.” The session presented D-Wave’s quantum annealing-based case study on Busan Port logistics optimization, along with BTQ Technologies’ next-generation quantum security technologies designed to address future quantum threats, demonstrating how two British Columbia-based companies are realizing quantum advantage in real business environments in Korea.
On March 27, a distinguished group of leaders gathered at Lotte Hotel Seoul for the Canada–Korea Forum VIP Luncheon, held as part of the broader Canada–Korea Forum. The luncheon brought together senior figures from government, industry, and academia, including H.E. Philippe Lafortune, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Korea; Dr. Park Jin, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea; and Perrin Beatty, Co-Chair of the Forum and President & CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Discussions centred on strengthening the Canada–Korea strategic partnership, advancing cooperation in energy security and critical minerals, and fostering innovation and technology collaboration. As a proud partner of the Forum, CanCham Korea was honoured to contribute by bringing members of its network into this important gathering, connecting business leaders with policymakers and complementing broader government engagement.
In April, the CanChams of the Indo-Pacific signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding, uniting 21 Canadian chambers across the region into a coordinated platform to advance trade, energy, infrastructure, and defence partnerships: a significant step in Canada’s strategic commitment to Asia.
Team Canada Trade Mission Reception
On April 1, CanCham Korea had the honour of serving as MC for the Team Canada Trade Mission Reception, the flagship event of the mission, welcoming approximately 500 guests from Canada and Korea. This year’s mission marked the first return of the Team Canada Trade Mission to Korea since 2024, and notably, the first time the mission has revisited the same country, reflecting the growing importance of the Canada–Korea partnership.
The reception brought together senior government representatives, industry leaders, and key stakeholders, with remarks from H.E. Philippe Lafortune, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Korea; the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade; and Minister Han-Koo Yeo of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The evening opened with a dynamic Korean Samulnori performance and ceremonial drum ritual, symbolizing Canada and Korea’s shared commitment to move forward together. As the mission’s flagship gathering, the reception provided a valuable platform for Canadian delegates and Korean counterparts to engage in meaningful dialogue and strengthen strategic connections.
Provincial and Federal Engagement
On March 5, the Alberta Government Office in Korea successfully hosted the Alberta–Korea Forum 2026 in Seoul, bringing together 150+ participants from government, industry, and the investment community. Centered on “Sustainable Food Security between Alberta and Korea,” the forum featured high-level remarks, keynote presentations, and discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agri-food, trade, and innovation.
On April 30, CanCham members had the opportunity to hear directly from Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who joined a webinar hosted by the CanChams of the Indo-Pacific to discuss the province’s trade priorities in agriculture, energy, and critical minerals, alongside its $50 billion in annual exports.
In early May, Canada-Korea industrial cooperation took a significant step forward when Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy visited Ottawa, resulting in new agreements on icebreaker research and industrial technology collaboration — reinforcing momentum across hydrogen, critical minerals, defence, and advanced manufacturing.
Photo credit: MOTIE
Later in May, CanCham members had the chance to connect directly with Ambassador Lafortune at our VIP members only Ambassador Luncheon, deepening the dialogue between the business community and Canada’s diplomatic mission in Korea.
On June 1, CanCham Korea supported the Ontario Trade and Investment Office in Korea’s market briefing, welcoming four innovative Ontario companies for a day of B2B meetings with Korean companies. The visit supported meaningful conversations around Korea market opportunities and the growing potential for Ontario-Korea collaboration in automotive and advanced manufacturing.
On June 5, CanCham Korea participated in the Canada Investment Roadshow in Korea
and supported the event as a bridge between the Canadian and Korean business communities. CanCham Korea’s Executive Director Melanie Oh served as MC. Key themes were included Canada as a strategic destination for Korean investment, Canada’s stable business environment, and its strong innovation ecosystem. Opportunities across sectors such as AI, technology, advanced industries, clean growth, and businCess expansion were discussed.
Closing Out H1: Celebrating Canada
As we closed the first half of the year in style with our Canada Day 2026 Celebration on July 2 at the Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, bringing together members, partners, and friends of Canada for an evening of culture, cuisine, and camaraderie.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, we have a variety of meaningful events in the pipeline starting with the Commonwealth Chambers Networking Night. It’s CanCham Korea’s turn to serve as the lead organizer this year. The event is expected to take place in October (tentatively October 22nd). We look forward to sharing more details on that and much more in the coming weeks.