The inaugural meeting of the Silesian Korean Investment Council took place on 13 May 2026 at the Goldstein Villa in Katowice, with the participation of Jun Youl Tae, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Poland. The Council was initiated by the Katowice Special Economic Zone, which created a new platform for cooperation to develop economic, investment and scientific relations between the region and its partners in South Korea.
The University of Silesia in Katowice was represented by Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, Vice-Rector for International and Domestic Cooperation, and Chang Il You, the Head of the Centre for Poland-South Korea Cooperation, from the Faculty of Humanities; both took up their positions in the newly established Council. Prof. Pietrzykowski joined the body as a representative of the University’s authorities, while Chang Il You was appointed as chief advisor for Korean affairs, becoming a pillar of communication and cooperation between the region and South Korean investors.
The participation of the University of Silesia in this body highlights the importance of the university’s cooperation with Korean partners and the growing role of academia in building the region’s international relations.
The Silesian Council for Korean Investment is intended to be a permanent platform for dialogue between the institutions of the Silesian Voivodeship and Korean investors operating in the region. It aims to foster cooperation, identify administrative and legal barriers and develop recommendations to foster further development of Polish-Korean investments and partnerships.
The founding members of the Silesian Korean Investment Council incorporate some of the region’s major institutions, including the University of Silesia in Katowice, the Silesian Voivodeship Office, the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship, the Metropolis GZM, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice, and organisations representing Korean business.
The establishment of the Council is another step in strengthening the relations between Poland and South Korea in Silesia and creating a space for cooperation between science, business and public administration.
Photo by Katowice Special Economic Zone
Photo by Katowice Special Economic Zone
Photo by Katowice Special Economic Zone
Photo by Katowice Special Economic Zone
Photo by Katowice Special Economic Zone
Photo by Katowice Special Economic Zone