SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won Calls for Deeper U.S.-Japan-Korea Cooperation Amid Shifting Global Order
Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group and Chairman of the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, underscored the strategic importance of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan as the global order undergoes rapid transformation.
Speaking at the welcome reception of the Trans-Pacific Dialogue (TPD) 2026, held February 20–21 local time at the Salamander Hotel in Washington, D.C., Chey described the current transition as “not merely a challenge but a structural reality that determines survival.” He said the way the three countries coordinate their efforts during this pivotal period will shape the future international order.
Launched in 2021 by the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, the TPD marked its fifth anniversary this year. The forum brings together former and current senior officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan, along with global scholars, think tank leaders and business executives, to examine key issues in Northeast Asia and the broader Pacific region and explore avenues for economic and security cooperation.
Chey identified artificial intelligence (AI) as a central driver of the “New Normal” era. While AI offers transformative solutions, he warned that it also introduces significant volatility. According to Chey, AI is fundamentally reshaping global industrial structures.
He pointed to surging energy demand driven by AI expansion as a pressing challenge. Failure to meet electricity needs in a timely manner could trigger broader societal risks, he cautioned, stressing the urgency of building environmentally sustainable and stable energy supply systems.
The financial burden of AI infrastructure investment was also highlighted. As global competition in AI accelerates, Chey noted that countries and corporations capable of mobilizing substantial capital and resources for infrastructure will gain strategic advantage. AI infrastructure, he added, is increasingly intertwined with financial strategy and national competitiveness.
The event featured congratulatory remarks from former U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha. Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shigeo Yamada, U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty and South Korea’s National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac delivered video messages. Christopher Landau, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and Kurt Campbell, Chairman of The Asia Group, also delivered keynote speeches emphasizing the necessity of trilateral cooperation.
Key agenda items at TPD 2026 included changes in the global order and trilateral cooperation, AI leadership competition and industrial restructuring, shifts in the global financial system, next-generation nuclear power and energy cooperation, and security alliances and deterrence.
The first session focused on geopolitical changes and global order, with international relations scholars discussing response strategies. In the AI session, industry and policy experts examined technological competition, industrial adoption and governance challenges.
On the second day, discussions continued with a special session on China and a forum on the restructuring of the global financial order. The energy session addressed next-generation nuclear power, carbon neutrality policies and energy collaboration. In the security session, participants explored evolving concepts of deterrence and the future direction of U.S.-Japan-Korea security cooperation.
Kim Yuseok, President of the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, said the fifth anniversary of TPD reaffirmed the strategic significance of trilateral cooperation. He pledged to continue fostering substantive discussions aimed at producing practical solutions in key areas such as AI and energy.
