The award ceremony took place at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Aizu Museum on the university's campus, with Korea University President Kim Dong-won and Waseda University President Tanaka Aiji among the distinguished guests.
Koo, who joined LG International Corp. (now LX International Corp.) in 1978, served as LG Group chairman for about nine years from 2013, transforming the conglomerate into a global enterprise with over 100 operations across 25 countries. During the early 1990s, he led LG International Corp.'s Japan regional headquarters, gaining firsthand experience in Korea-Japan economic cooperation.
The veteran businessman has played a pivotal role in bilateral relations, serving on the Seoul-Tokyo Forum board during periods of diplomatic tensions and facilitating regional cooperation through business summits and economic conferences.
"Chairman Koo established the Korea-Japan Special Exchange Committee after assuming the chairmanship of the Korea International Trade Association, playing a crucial role in restoring economic trust between the two nations through sustained dialogue with Japanese political and business leaders," Tanaka said during the ceremony.
In his acceptance speech delivered in fluent Japanese, Koo said receiving the honorary doctorate was "a deeply meaningful event that symbolizes the trust and exchanges between the two universities," adding that he felt "a sense of responsibility as it embodies expectations to become an exemplary leader for both Korea and Japan."
reporter
Kim Dong-young
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