Speaker Bios

Chung Sye Kyun
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy

Chung Sye Kyun was appointed Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy in February 2006. He brings to the Ministry many years of experience from the business community as well as from the political arena.

Chung began his career at Ssangyong Group, one of Korea's top ten conglomerates, in 1978. He played an active role in many of the company's core export-import businesses and later coordinated Ssangyong's American operations in Los Angeles.

After 17 years in the business community, Chung decided to bring his business expertise and international outlook to the political scene by running a successful bid for the National Assembly in 1996.

As a member of the 15th National Assembly, Chung became a member of the Committee on Finance and Economy and then served as the Coordinator for the Committee from 1997 through 1998. Between 1998 and 1999, he worked as the Standing Chairman of the Tripartite (Labor, Business and Government) Commission.

Rejoining the 16th National Assembly in 2000, Chung worked for the Special Committee on Budget and Account from 2002 to 2003, and as the Chairman for the Committee for Policy Coordination from 2002 through 2004. In 2004, Chung was appointed the Chairman of the Jeollabukdo Chapter of the ruling Uri Party. During the period of 2004 through 2006, he worked as the Director of Parliamentarians' Forum Against Corruption and the Director of Parliamentarians' Forum for Transportation Safety.

In 2005, Chung was appointed the Chairman of the House Steering Committee. The same year, he was elected the Floor Leader of the Uri Party.

Minister Chung received a doctorate degree in Business Administration from Kyunghee University in 2004, an MBA from Pepperdine University in 1990, and a B.A. in Law from Korea University in 1975. He once served as President of the Students' Association of Korea University.

Lee Yong-Deuk
President, Federation of the Korean Trade Unions

Lee, Yong-deuk served as president of the Korea Federation of Bank and Financial Workers' Unions and the Korea Financial Industry Union(KFIU) before he was elected as FKTU president in May 2004.  He led general strikes in the financial sector in 2001 and was subsequently imprisoned for a period of over a year.  He is a standing member of the Korea Tripartite Commission (KTC).  He also served as an Executive Board member of the Union Network International(UNI).  He is currently a titular member of the ICFTU Executive Board.  He was born in 1953.

Tami Overby
President, AMCHAM Korea

Tami joined the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) as Executive Director in June 1995.  She is responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the Chamber.  She supervises a staff of 20 Korean employees as they coordinate all events, briefings and the production and marketing of all AMCHAM publications.  She is the liaison between the over 30 different committees that make up the core of the Chamber activities and is also an active member of the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee. 

Tami arrived in Korea in 1988 and has been actively involved in AMCHAM ever since.  She served as Co-Chairperson of the Membership Committee and the Human Resources Committee, was elected to serve on the Chamber's Board of Governors and later elected as Vice President before being selected to lead the Chamber as their senior paid executive.  She has actively participated in 16 different Washington Doorknock trips and in June 1996 testified before the US Congressional Immigration Sub-Committee on Korea's behalf to join the Visa Waiver Program and has been a driving force behind AMCHAM’s support for improving the efficiency of the US government’s visa process. 

Tami is active in civic and charitable activities as well, including the Seoul Children’s Welfare Committee and Invest Korea Advisory Council.  Tami is the AMCHAM representative to the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and is on General LaPorte’s Senior Korea Advisory Council. She is also on the Board of Directors for AMCHAM’s non-profit foundation, Partners for the Future, providing aid and assistance to the unemployed in Korea and is a member the Fulbright Commission Board.

In recognition of her efforts in promoting mutually cooperative economic relations between the Republic of Korea and the United States, Tami was awarded a Letter of Citation (Bronze Tower) by President Roh, Moo-hyun in December 2004, as well as by President Kim Dae-Jung in March 2001. Also in 2001, Tami was appointed as Honorary Ambassador to Visit Korea 2001 by Minister of Culture and Tourism Kim Han-Gil for her dedicated efforts in encouraging American tourism to Korea.

Additional speakers will appear representing the Korea Electronics Technology Institute, Korea Bio Venture Association, and Korea Core Industrial Technology Investment Association.