My love affair with Korea started last year when i was invited by the State Department to put together a Korean-US Trade Summit. I was honored to serve with several other dignitaries on the US advisory committee along with Co-chair Governor Gregoire. I had a chance to meet with several innovative companies at the event as well. Earlier this year, I was hired by the executive team at KTF, the number 2 carrier in Korea to do some strategy work. As a result, I spent sometime in Seoul and go to know more about the industry, the country, and the wonderful folks who are so digitally inclined that they rank #1 in ITU/UN’s Digital Opportunity Index (ahead of Japan and US which is #21). Their engagement with games is at a different spiritual level.

So, it was only fitting that my first sponsorship of an event was rolled out at the Korean IT Leaders Summit which was held in Seattle last week. Proudly displayed my company banner side-by-side with Microsoft. Several senior executives from the Korean companies like SK Telecom were present. It always amazes me that the gulf between the device quality between Korea/Japan and US. Though the gap is closing, we are still worlds apart. I have a top of the line EV-DO LG phone. Comparing it with some of the handsets i saw in delegates hand, there is no comparison. User experience is so much better on handsets in Korea/Japan that us consumers in the US are missing out. I will have more on the Korean market next year.

I will be finishing the year with a stop in Seoul later in December.

If you are looking to do business in Korea or Japan or vice-versa for a North American or European company, let me know.