SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, June 27, 2025 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Korea Legislation Research Institute (KLRI) co-hosted an international academic conference on June 27, 2025, at the GGGI Headquarters in Seoul. The event brought together experts from government, academia, and international organizations to explore strategic legal and technological responses to global supply chain disruptions with a focus on enhancing industrial competitiveness.

The conference addressed urgent policy challenges stemming from climate change, geopolitical instability, and digital transformation. Experts shared insights on global trends, including green supply chain implementation in China, sustainable sourcing strategies in the EU, and the emerging role of digital product passports. The event highlighted the importance of international cooperation and regulatory innovation to build resilient and environmentally sustainable supply chains.

In his welcoming remarks, Sang-Hyup Kim, Director-General of GGGI, emphasized the timeliness of the conference by stating, “Green growth is no longer optional—it is essential. The transformation of supply chains must be grounded in sustainability if we are to ensure long-term competitiveness.” Yeong-Soo Han, President of KLRI, remarked, “By strengthening our cooperation with international organizations like GGGI, KLRI is committed to advancing forward-looking legal frameworks that foster innovation, sustainability, and global competitiveness.”

The first session opened with a presentation by Dr. Ming Xu, Professor and Associate Dean at Tsinghua University, who discussed China’s policy trends in implementing green supply chains and developing environmentally sustainable industrial ecosystems. This was followed by Dr. Nacef Tazi, Project Officer at the European Commission, who introduced the EU’s technological strategies for securing sustainable supply chains. He highlighted emerging regulatory and innovation efforts across the European region in response to growing geopolitical and climate-related pressures.

Following these presentations, discussants including Dr. Jooyoung Park from Seoul National University, Dr. Jaeryoung Song from the National Institute of Green Technology (NIGT), Dr. Youngjoo Ko from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Dr. Daeyoung Kim from KAIST, and Mr. Yohan Jeon from GS1 Korea provided expert commentary on the implications of these strategies for Korea’s industrial landscape.

The second session focused on legal and institutional responses to supply chain shifts. Keshan Samarasinghe, Policy and Project Development Expert at GGGI, presented international cooperation strategies for green growth in response to global supply chain disruptions. He emphasized the importance of aligning supply chain transformation with low-carbon development and highlighted GGGI’s role in supporting member countries through integrated policy solutions. In the final presentation, Dr. Minji Han, Associate Research Fellow at KLRI, highlighted the emerging importance of Digital Product Passports (DPP) as a regulatory tool reshaping supply chain governance, especially within the EU. She stressed the need for Korea to adapt its legal and industrial frameworks to these changes proactively.

During the discussion session, Jeonghoon Yang, Senior MRV Specialist at GGGI, noted that strengthening industrial competitiveness requires not only technological advancement but also secure energy systems and low-carbon energy transition. “At the core of this must be international cooperation rooted in energy transition,” he said.

Building on the momentum of this conference, GGGI and KLRI plan to expand joint research and knowledge exchange on green industrial policy and legal innovation in response to global sustainability challenges.

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