Shinsegae chairman, other Korean biz leaders to attend Trump's inauguration ceremony
Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, speaks to the press at Incheon International Airport after returning from his trip to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Florida resort, Dec. 22, 2024. Yonhap
Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Korean retail conglomerate Shinsegae Group, and a group of other Korean business leaders will attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony later this month, officials said Wednesday.
Chung has been invited to the inauguration ceremony slated for Jan. 20 (U.S. time) in Washington, along with Woo Oh-hyun, chairman of construction and shipping conglomerate SM Group; bakery giant SPC Group Chairman Hur Young-in; and Ryu Jin, Poongsan Group chairman and head of the Federation of Korean Industries, according to the officials.
Chung will also attend the presidential inaugural ball to be held throughout the evening of the inauguration day at the invitation of Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., with whom he reportedly has a close relationship, other informed sources said on condition of anonymity.
Chung held a brief meeting with Trump during his recent visit to Trump's Florida resort last month at the invitation of Trump junior, becoming the first known Korean to have personally met the U.S. president-elect since the U.S. election in November.
The Shinsegae Group chief is also the only known person so far from the Korean business circle set to join the inaugural ball.
Woo and Hur have been invited to the inauguration ceremony by the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association. ROK stands for Republic of Korea, the official name of Korea.
Ryu is known to have close ties with U.S. Republican Party officials, including former President George W. Bush. (Yonhap)