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AtoA Table Seoul 2025: Where Global Connections Begin
A New Chapter in new community table with no boundaries
Team BigC.Works
June 05, 2025
After a decade of hosting "Meet the Table," AtoA Table Seoul 2025 marks the beginning of Season 2—a bold new chapter that shifts focus from problem-solving to connection-building. This transformation represents more than just a rebranding; it's a fundamental reimagining of how global communities can come together in meaningful ways.
For ten years, Meet the Table operated on a simple but powerful premise: identify pressing issues, bring together those who faced these challenges, and surround them with brilliant minds capable of finding solutions. These gatherings combined serious discourse with the warmth of shared meals and drinks, creating lasting bonds that extended far beyond the event itself.
The format took participants from Korea to New York, and during COVID-19, even managed to bring together 40 people for a remarkable 16-hour online session that concluded at D2 Studio beneath Intercom's building, where participants shared their visions of future success.
The Evolution: From Problem-Solving to Quality Connection
The new Table concept, launched alongside BigC.Works Magazine, represents a philosophical shift toward connection as the primary catalyst for change. "AtoA" carries multiple meanings—America to Afro-Eurasia, the journey from self to other, connections bridging present to future. As one participant beautifully noted, in French, it could mean "à toi"—to you.
AtoA Table Seoul 2025 embraced the theme "Where the global connection begins," attempting to bridge America and the global community through Seoul. The most crucial focus was connecting two communities living parallel lives in Korea: expatriates who create vibrant but insular international communities, and local Koreans who remain largely unaware of the rich diversity of foreigners living among them.
The Gathering
On June 3rd, coinciding with a significant day in Korean politics, the inaugural AtoA Table Seoul convened at Epica Hill in Gangnam. The event was a collaborative effort spearheaded by Paul Joseph J. Kang, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of BigC.Works, in partnership with VentureSquare, Korea's prominent startup news media and accelerator. The gathering was made possible through the generous support of Intercom, which has led multilateral conferences as a global PCO in Korea for four decades, and Epikar, an innovative force in automotive dealer systems. Despite the temporary holiday, all partner teams dedicated their day to making the event successful. Glimpse, an event solution and community building platform positioned as the next evolution beyond Lu.Ma, served as the platform partner.
Overwhelming Response
The response exceeded all expectations. While organizers targeted 73 participants, 138 people applied. Even with a rigorous approval system requiring additional RSVP information, the turnout was remarkable.
The balanced mix of Korean locals and international residents surprised everyone—where else could such a diverse, engaged community gather on a holiday with such enthusiasm? even, two startups joined this event as the sponsors.
World Makgeolli Seltzer Brand "SWRL" has joined as our beverage sponsor.
The "REAL 9 Fit" espresso machine, which delivers café-quality coffee, has joined as our coffee partner.
Growing Pains and Lessons Learned
As with any inaugural event, AtoA Table Seoul faced challenges that provided valuable lessons for the future. Audio system limitations affected the clarity of panel discussions and fireside chats, particularly when networking conversations in the back competed with formal presentations. Balancing operational flexibility with professional execution remains an ongoing objective.
Perhaps most significantly, the abundance of speakers and panels prevented the highly anticipated fireside chat about K Dash brands from taking place. Given the substantial interest in this topic, organizers are planning to host this discussion as an online AtoA round table, with gallery viewing available for the broader community.
Details will be shared following consultations with moderators and guests.
Looking Forward: A Global Journey of Connection
Plans are underway for an online recap and follow-up table to capture the changes, projects, and collaborations that emerged from the initial gathering. This commitment to sustained engagement reflects the most valuable lesson from ten years of Meet the Table: the real magic happens in the robust follow-up that transforms single encounters into lasting relationships and meaningful projects.
The AtoA Table concept now embarks on an ambitious global journey. Much like Minerva University's nomadic educational model, BigC.Works Magazine will travel to new cities, co-hosting tables with local partners in each destination. This approach will create diverse concepts, themes, and scales of gathering—sometimes spanning multiple days, other times intimate dinner tables for two or three, or casual tea table conversations. Each location will bring unique cultural perspectives and local insights, enriching the global tapestry of connections.
The next confirmed milestone is August 15th in San Francisco, the day after the Create the Future Summit, promising an even more refined and impactful experience as the AtoA Table model continues to evolve and expand across continents.
AtoA Table Seoul 2025 demonstrated that hunger for authentic global connection transcends language barriers, cultural differences, and even inconvenient timing. In a world increasingly fragmented by digital divisions, the simple act of bringing people together around shared curiosity and mutual respect remains remarkably powerful. As the AtoA Table journey continues across cities worldwide, each gathering builds upon this foundation, creating ripples of connection that extend far beyond any single event.
The information of AtoA Table Seoul 2025
Creator: Paul Joseph J. Kang
Co-Hosted by:
BigC.Works Magazine | VentureSquare
Partners:
Special thanks to Venue Sponsor: EPIKAR
Moderator: Cosmo Jina
Project Coordinators: Won Jang, Matti Douy, Brenda Lee, Pauline Michot
Welcome Greetings:
Presenting the vision and mission of AtoA Table
Introduction of Co-host and Partners
Bosuk Han, CEO of EPIKAR
Delivering welcoming remarks and sharing Epikar’s vision as a global mobility platform
Special Guest Speakers:
Seung-eun Myung, CEO of VentureSquare
Introduce the Korean Startup Ecosystem and Recent Changes Following the Presidential Election
Introduce StartupSquare: A New Space in The Second Pangyo called Korean Silicon Valley
Paul Joseph J. Kang, Founder, Editor-in-Chief of BigC.Works w/ Dawon Baik from Incheon Startup Park
Why, Global POC with local connection is important for tapping the untapped market, along with a real-world example.
Demonstrating how strategic matchmaking and cross-border partnerships can generate tangible value (Incheon PoC Case).
Randy Peers, CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce (New York, USA)
Sharing insights on building global partnerships, city-to-city collaborations, and fostering cross-cultural networks.
Program Highlights:
🌐 Panel Talk:
How to Create Mutual Benefits Through Quality Connections Amid Korea’s post-election transition and rising global tariff tensions triggered by U.S. trade policy shifts
Participants will engage in an open, interactive discussion exploring:
1. New Opportunities and Risks in a Time of Policy Transition
2. Redefining Global-Local Collaboration
3. Business Models Beyond Tariffs and Trade Barriers
4. The Meaning of Quality Connections—and What They Make Possible
Moderators: Naia Jang & Jae-heun Kim
Panelists:
Randy Peers (CEO & President of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce)
Youngjune Kim (Head of global division at Seoul CCEI)
Marta Allina (Founder of Seoul Startup)
Timothy Dickens (Chairman of South African Chamber of Commerce)
* The list of roundtable guests is subject to change and may be updated.
Leading the roundtable and ensuring a dynamic, engaging conversation among participants.
At AtoA Table Seoul:
Individuals and organizations from diverse backgrounds will come together.
Cultures, ideas, and ambitions will meet, mix, and create new possibilities.
BigC.Works & VentureSquare and its partners will provide follow-up support for matchmaking and collaborative opportunities, ensuring that the connections made at the event continue to grow into meaningful projects.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, innovator, community builder, investor, or creative mind — this table is set for you.
Join us at AtoA Table Seoul. Let’s build the future together.
🚀 Heads-Up: Coming Soon!
AtoA Table San Francisco — August 15, 2025
(After table of Create the Future Summit 2025)
We are excited to announce that after AtoA Table Seoul, we will continue building the bridge of global innovation and collaboration at AtoA Table in San Francisco, right after the Create the Future Summit 2025.
About
Create the Future Summit 2025:
The Create the Future Summit 2025 is a visionary gathering of global leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators who are shaping the industries and societies of tomorrowThe summit focuses on:
Emerging technologies
Sustainable innovation
New urban models
Cross-cultural, cross-sector collaboration
Participants include leading venture capitalists, startup founders, city planners, tech innovators, and community builders from around the world, coming together to ignite ideas that will create the next wave of global change.
The agenda of AtoA Table as the side event of Create the future summit will be announced at AtoA Table Seoul
The future of global community building is not about solving problems in isolation, but about weaving connections that enable us to face challenges together. AtoA Table Seoul 2025 was just the beginning of this worldwide journey.
