On the 20th of this month (local time), Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, Huh Young-in, chairman of SPC Group, and Woo Oh-hyun, chairman of SM Group, are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony of U.S. President Donald Trump. However, there have been no confirmed cases of attendance among the heads of the top 10 domestic groups, including Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, and LG.
According to the business community on the 9th, it has been indicated that neither Chairman Chung Eui-sun nor Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon of Hyundai Motor Group will attend President Trump's inauguration ceremony. It has been pointed out that there is no confirmation on the attendance of Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, or Koo Kwang-mo, chairman of LG Group.
An official at Samsung Electronics said, "Given that the attendance has not been publicly disclosed yet, it seems that the chairman will not attend."
There is a prevailing sentiment within the remaining groups that the heads or chief executive officers (CEOs) may not attend the inauguration ceremony. It has been confirmed that Jang In-hwa, chairman of POSCO, Kwon Oh-gap, chairman of HD Hyundai, Chung Ki-sun, vice chairman of HD Hyundai, and Huh Tae-soo, chairman of GS Group, have no plans to attend. It is reported that they have not received invitations. Invitations are reportedly sent by the inauguration committee or by someone with recommendation authority after inquiring about the attendance intentions.
Lotte Group and Hanwha Group did not disclose whether their head or management would be invited or attend. There are indications in the retail sector that there is speculation about the possibility of Shin Dong-bin, chairman of Lotte Group, attending the inauguration ceremony. Shin has met President-elect Trump several times. He met then-President Trump at a state dinner at the Blue House in November 2017 and June 2019. In May 2019, following a $3.1 billion (approximately 4.5 trillion won) investment by Lotte Chemical in establishing a petrochemical plant in Louisiana, he became the first head of a South Korean conglomerate to meet President Trump in the White House.
A representative of Lotte Holdings said, "There is no confirmed information on whether we have officially received an invitation from the Trump transition team, and it is impossible to confirm whether Chairman Shin will attend the inauguration."
Kim Seung-yeon, chairman of Hanwha Group, was invited to President Trump's inauguration ceremony in 2017, but he has not disclosed whether he will be invited or attend this year. Chairman Kim was invited to the ceremony due to his long-standing relationship with Edwin Feulner, founder of the Heritage Foundation, a close associate of President-elect Trump, but he could not attend due to health issues at the time.
Ryu Jin, chairman of the Korean Economic Association, has reportedly received an invitation from the Trump transition team but has not confirmed his attendance.
Confirmed attendees include Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, Huh Young-in, chairman of SPC Group, and Woo Oh-hyun, chairman of SM Group, who will attend the main event of the inauguration ceremony held at the U.S. Capitol around noon on the 20th. Whether they will enter the VIP-only official event area invited by the transition committee or sit in the stands with general citizens remains unclear.
Chairman Chung is said to be attending by accepting an invitation from Trump Jr., the son of President-elect Trump. He is also reported to have been invited to one of the inaugural balls following the ceremony. Last year, Chairman Chung met President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, the residence of President-elect Trump, upon the invitation of Trump Jr.
Chairman Huh and Chairman Woo have received invitations to attend the inauguration ceremony through the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association. The ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association has actively participated in U.S.-South Korea exchange activities since its establishment in 2003. The association is chaired by Woo's brother, Woo Hyun-hee. Chairman Woo was invited and attended the first inauguration ceremony of President Trump in January 2017.
Chairman Huh was also invited to the inauguration ceremony through the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association. He has submitted an application for permission for overseas travel to the court for his departure to the U.S. He has been indicted on charges of violating labor union laws and was released on bail, needing court approval to leave the country. However, as he went on a business trip to Japan with court permission last November, there are expectations that he may also be able to attend this time.