Amy Oh, a Seoul National University MBA Program student, was chosen as one of the top 100 out of 1,000 applicants for the 54th St. Gallen Symposium Essay Contest held in Switzerland. As a result, Oh was invited to attend the week-long symposium on a full scholarship as a member of the "Leaders of Tomorrow," a group of future global leaders.


Under the theme "Shifting Powers," various discussions took place during the symposium on the influence of the global order and the shifting of influences. Applicants for the essay contest had to take a creative approach to explore the risks and opportunities that come with these shifts in the global order.

In an essay titled "Beyond Superpowers: How Middle Nations Are Reshaping Global Supply Chains," Oh highlighted that increasing geopolitical tensions between the United States and China could create new opportunities for middle nations. Specifically, she pointed out that countries dependent on both the U.S. and China politically and economically might emerge as key players in reshaping global supply chains as they seek to define their roles in the conflict.

Oh explained her reasons for writing the essay by stating, "I thought that for countries that have relied on the U.S. and China, the tension between the two nations could present a new opportunity."


During the symposium, members of "Leaders of Tomorrow," including Oh, took part in an intergenerational discussion with 500 global leaders from various sectors, such as the CEO of Deutsche Bank, the President of UBS Switzerland, and the CEO of Roche International. Participants actively engaged in in-depth discussions on key global issues, such as AI governance, the resilience of global trade, and geopolitical conflicts.

Discussions about responsibility and cooperation under the theme of the "generational contract," along with discussions on sensitive global issues, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, enabled participants to reflect on current viewpoints and consider the ethical and strategic challenges faced by global leaders today.

Oh commented, "Attending the St. Gallen Symposium was a rare opportunity to widen my perspective of the global power structure and a valuable reminder of the importance of cooperation, empathy, and responsible leadership in an increasingly complex international community."