Kim Won-i, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 11th, “I pledge to properly review and create budgets, policies, and legislation in the National Assembly to support the development of the distribution industry.”
Kim, the ruling party’s secretary of the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, spoke at the opening remarks of the ’2025 ChosunBiz Consumer and Retail Forum' held that day at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Josun Hotel in Seoul, saying, “No matter how well-made a product is, it will fail in distribution. An industry without distribution is like a steamed bun without red bean paste.”
Kim expressed, “I sincerely congratulate the opening of the 2025 Consumer and Retail Forum, which is being held for the thirteenth time,” adding, “The key agenda of this year’s forum is the proud Korea brand, K-brand. Indeed, K is in vogue.”
He continued, “K-pop, K-dramas, K-fashion, K-movies, it is an era where simply adding ‘K’ shakes the world. Even after the success of ‘Parasite,’ the recent release of the Korean animation ‘King of Kings’ in the U.S. is creating a box office sensation.”
Kim noted, “Under the Lee Jae-myung administration, we are contemplating how to continue the K-brand power as a K-initiative.”
Regarding the possibility of legislation for mandatory closure of large supermarkets on holidays, he said, “This is a bill proposed by Representative Oh Se-hee last year and is currently pending in the subcommittee of the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee; it is not the party’s stance,” adding, “The distribution industry is highly concerned, but there is still a long way to go in the review process, so do not worry.”