On March 11, 2025, the National Assembly Global Foreign Affairs and Security Forum hosted a pivotal policy forum titled "The Era of Trade Disputes Becoming Diplomatic Conflicts—What If the Coupang Incident Happened in Singapore?" Prompted by the recent Coupang controversy, the event convened leading foreign affairs, trade, and economic experts—including Jeffrey Jones, Chairman of AMCHAM Korea; Steve Park, President of TriForum; Dr. In-kook Kye, Professor of Korea University; and Dr. Ju-hyoung Lee, Professor of University of Seoul. Together, they examined the profound impacts of domestic regulations on foreign-invested enterprises within the global trade landscape, forging a more rational and collaborative path forward for governments, corporations, and civil society alike.

The discussion on the Coupang incident juxtaposed contrasting viewpoints, with Jeffrey Jones emphasizing that foreign firms must respect local culture to achieve sustainable growth, while other experts warned that strict regulatory enforcement under heightened global scrutiny risks signaling an unpredictable business environment. This debate underscored a pivotal paradigm shift where trade friction directly impacts diplomacy and national image, highlighting the need to pivot away from sanction-heavy approaches toward Singapore-style transparency and predictability. Ultimately, the forum forged a clear consensus: both government and corporations must cultivate a policy environment aligned with international standards and grounded in mutual trust to safeguard sovereign credibility and cement South Korea’s standing as a trusted global partner.