South Korea
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Korean business leaders demonstrate a nuanced and cautious outlook on the geopolitical and business landscape heading into 2025, often expressing measured rather than decisive views on major global shifts.
While Korean executives generally align with global peers on geopolitical matters—with 55% acknowledging an increase in protectionist business policies—their responses betray higher levels of uncertainty about future global dynamics. This is particularly evident in their views on trade bloc fragmentation, where 60% agree but the vast majority only “somewhat agreed,” and they report the highest proportion of neutral responses (24%) among all countries. Interestingly, Korean business leaders distinguish themselves from global peers in their acute focus on climate risk, with 47% citing climate-related opportunities as a key concern – the highest among all respondents and particularly striking given their characteristically measured responses to other trends.
In the business realm, this pattern of cautious assessment continues. While Korean leaders are actively planning operational changes—including aggressive AI integration —they report greater uncertainty than their peers about AI’s long-term business impact on workforce planning. Their views on industry consolidation and supply chain priorities similarly reflect this pattern, with Korea consistently showing the highest proportion of neutral stances (28% and 24% respectively) among all surveyed nations.
This measured approach suggests Korean leaders are carefully evaluating the complex dynamics shaping the 2025 landscape across both geopolitics and business innovation.
45%
Which regions present the strongest new business opportunities for your organization in 2025?
40%
Thinking about the following potential shifts in the international business landscape, which five do you think will have the most significant impact on fostering innovation and growth?
47%
Thinking about the same list of potential shifts in the international business landscape, which five are you most concerned about?
GEOPOLITICAL LANDSCAPE
Governments are increasingly becoming more protectionist in their business policy (i.e. cross-border data sharing, onshoring of chip manufacturing). Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
47% of South Korean respondents marked opportunities borne out of climate risk (e.g. resilient infrastructure, insurance) in their top five concerning shifts in the international business landscape - the highest rate of respondents across all countries surveyed.
BUSINESS LANDSCAPE
Which of the following actions is your organization planning to take or continue in 2025 - specifically with a focus on the transformation of the labor market stemming from AI?
AI will collapse traditional career paths and make long-term workforce planning impossible for business leaders. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Supply chain resilience will take priority over cost optimization. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Which of the following operational changes is your organization planning to make in 2025?
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