Jaewon Peter Chun is a South Korean-born investor and smart city strategist, best known as the President of the World Smart Cities Forum (WSCF) and CEO of ARK-i Labs and XnTREE. He has played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable smart city initiatives globally, including projects in South Korea, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
Background & Career
Early Career: Began in investment banking and corporate finance, focusing on technology and high-potential companies.
Leadership Roles:
1. President, World Smart Cities Forum (WSCF) (2018–present) – A non-profit based in London and New York, advising municipalities on sustainable urban growth.
2. CEO, ARK-i Labs (2019–present) – Provides smart city solutions and services worldwide.
3. CEO, XnTREE (2016–present ) – A tech accelerator that has supported over 300 startups, with several becoming unicorns.
4. Executive Director, Korea-Israel Chamber of Commerce (KICC) (2011–present).
5. Partner, APEX Investment & Company (2005–present).
Smart City Contributions
a)South Korea: Helped design national smart city pilot projects, including transforming Busan into a digital innovation hub.
b)Ukraine: Serving as Smart City Master Planner for Kyiv and Lviv, despite wartime challenges. Pilot testbeds are being developed in London and New York.
c)Vietnam: Leading EV mobility platform development in Hanoi’s Hoàn Kiếm District.