Trump Jr. taps Korean tycoons in Seoul visit
Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, held a series of closed-door meetings with around 20 business leaders from Korean conglomerates on Wednesday, during a private visit at the invitation of Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin.
According to industry sources, Trump Jr. met with business figures including Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, Hanwha Life President Kim Dong-won, Hanwha Hotels & Resorts Vice President Kim Dong-seon, Lotte Corp. Executive Vice President Shin Yoo-yeol, CJ Group Chair Lee Jae-hyun, LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun, Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae, Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won and Naver founder Lee Hae-jin.
Due to the sensitivity of the discussions, details of the meetings were kept strictly confidential. Major conglomerates met with Trump Jr. individually, while mid-sized enterprises took part in group meetings. The one-on-one meetings reportedly lasted between 30 minutes and one hour.
Trump Jr.'s visit is not part of an official US government delegation, and he was not expected to meet with political or government officials, out of respect for White House guidance.
He arrived in Seoul at around 6:25 p.m. on Tuesday via private jet at Gimpo Business Aviation Center and began his two-day visit with a dinner hosted by the Shinsegae chairman and his wife.
It marks Trump Jr.'s first trip to Korea since August of last year and his first since the beginning of his father's second term as president.
Experts say the visit could be a valuable opportunity for Korean conglomerates to deepen personal networks within US business and political circles, potentially yielding strategic synergies.
'(Trump Jr.'s latest visit) offers a rare chance to explore how we can receive support in expanding our business presence in the US,' said Oh Il-sun, director at the CXO Research Institute. 'It's also about identifying mutual interests where both sides can achieve win-win outcomes.'
An industry source, who requested anonymity, said, 'Key topics likely included trade challenges such as tariffs, as well as ways to boost bilateral investment and economic cooperation (between the US and Korea).'
The source further speculated, 'Given the US interest in Korea's IT and shipbuilding industries, discussions may have touched on potential areas for negotiation and collaboration.'
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