The World Federation of Korean Trade Associations (World OKTA), hosted by its Los Angeles chapter (OKTA LA, led by President Byung-mo Jung), will hold the “2025 North America-Western Next-Generation Entrepreneurship Trade School” next month to nurture the next generation of Korean-American trade and business leaders.

The Next-Generation Global Entrepreneurship Trade School is one of the most significant core initiatives of World OKTA and OKTA LA, conducted annually across 150 chapters in 71 countries to train young Korean trade professionals among the diaspora. Amid the globalized economy, this program aims to cultivate talent well-versed in international markets, serving as export pioneers in Korea and overseas Korean communities. It seeks to foster the next generation of economic leaders by raising awareness of the Korean economy, international trade, and local markets, while accelerating the utilization of overseas Korean businesspeople as forward bases and human networks for global market penetration of Korean products.

This year’s North America-Western Next-Generation Entrepreneurship Trade School will take place from August 15 to 17 over three days and two nights at the UCLA campus, offering an excellent opportunity for business training and networking. The school targets Korean individuals aged 19 to 39 who are interested in trade or aspire to start their own businesses. Participants will benefit greatly from the World OKTA network, enabling them to exchange information with next-generation members from the LA chapter and other countries while gaining firsthand insight into trade trends.

This year’s integrated trade school will adopt the theme of the drama Squid Game, titled “Navigating N.E.X.T.: Where Should Leaders Go in an Era of Change?” N.E.X.T. stands for Navigate, Elevate, Experience, and Thrive. The program will delve deeply into topics such as the transition to AI and data-driven strategies, organizational and personal capacity building post-digital transformation, designing new customer experiences, and developing sustainable business models and cultures. The lineup of speakers includes Gi-yong Han, a representative who has advised over 500 startups; David Yeom, developer of the online invitation platform Evite; and Chang-won Kim, founder of Tapas Media—the first U.S. webtoon portal site, later acquired by Kakao—who will deliver lectures. A trade simulation game will also be prepared to enhance participants’ understanding of trade.

The application deadline is August 12, with a participation fee of $350. The program is limited to 100 participants. The fee covers two nights’ accommodation, meals, lectures, uniforms, and a 2025 World OKTA membership. Additionally, OKTA LA announced that the “2025 Trade Academy” will be held online from August 13 to September 10.The five-session course will run from 7:00 PM to 7:15 PM each time, covering the following topics: July 13: Trump Administration Trade Status and Tariff Law Overview
August 20: Trade Logistics Practice and E-commerce Distribution 101
August 27: Megatrends and Marketing, Overseas Buyer Sourcing Strategies
September 3: K-Food and K-Cosmetics Trade Practices and Success Stories
September 10: Special Lecture and Graduation Ceremony

Open to any interested Korean businessperson or individual on a first-come, first-served basis (limited to 60 participants), those who complete the four-week course will receive a certificate issued by the LA Korean Consulate and OKTA LA president, along with eligibility to apply for OKTA LA membership. Applications can be submitted via the OKTA LA website (www.oktala.net) (www.oktala.net). For inquiries, contact OKTA LA at oktalausa@oktala.net or call (213) 984-5226.

By Hwan-dong Cho