HANOVER, Germany — The lead organizer of Hannover Messe, the world's leading trade fair for the manufacturing industry, pledged Wednesday (local time) to ramp up efforts to attract more exhibitors from Korea, acknowledging the event’s declining popularity in the manufacturing-reliant Asian country. Speaking to The Korea Times at a press preview held eight weeks before the trade show, Jochen Kockler, chairman of Deutsche Messe's managing board, said he believes his company should examine why the number of Korean participants has decreased and why it has not yet considered a partnership with the Korean government. Deutsche Messe selects a partner country for Hannover Messe each year. This year's partner country is Brazil, with a visit planned for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in April. "It's really a challenge, but we will work on it," Kockler said. When Deutsche Messe hosted a separate press conference in Seoul on Feb. 5, the event organizer said HD Hyundai Electric would be the only conglomerate among 70 Korean institutions and companies participating in this year's show. Unlik