Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, announced on Dec. 21 (local time) that he had met and conversed with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during his stay at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Chung’s visit, which lasted from Dec. 16 until the morning of Dec. 21, marks the first publicized meeting between a South Korean business leader and Trump since his election.
Chung shared details of his visit at Atlanta International Airport. “I met with President-elect Trump. We had a conversation for about 10-15 minutes,” Chung stated. He further elaborated, “I dined with Trump and had an in-depth conversation on various topics separately.” However, Jung refrained from disclosing specific details of their discussion, citing confidentiality.
During his stay at Mar-a-Lago, Chung was introduced to numerous individuals by Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of the President-elect. “As a businessman, I discussed various business ideas with Trump Jr. Since we share the same religion, we also talked about religious matters. Trump Jr. introduced me to many people, and I discussed business with them,” Chung explained.
Chung’s visit coincided with a significant announcement by Masayoshi Son, chairman of SoftBank, who revealed a $100 billion investment plan in the U.S. on Dec. 16. Son spent approximately seven hours with Trump and held a joint press conference, highlighting the competitive nature of international business diplomacy.
Despite the high-profile nature of his visit, Chung clarified that there was no message from the South Korean government for him to deliver to President-elect Trump. “There were no specific mentions,” he said, emphasizing his role as a businessman rather than a political envoy. Chung also did not disclose whether he received an official invitation to Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, scheduled for Jan. 20 next year.
The meeting between Chung and Trump is significant given the historical and economic ties between the U.S. and South Korea. The two countries have a longstanding alliance, particularly in defense and economic cooperation. The U.S. has been negotiating with South Korea over defense cost-sharing, a contentious issue with Trump advocating for increased contributions from South Korea.
Chung’s engagement with Trump and his team underscores the importance of business diplomacy in maintaining and strengthening international relations. As a prominent figure in South Korea’s business community, Chung’s interactions with the incoming U.S. administration could have implications for future economic and trade policies between the two nations.
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