Domestic political and business figures are heading to the United States. They are attending the inauguration ceremony of U.S. President Donald Trump on the 20th (local time) in Washington, D.C.
According to the business community on the 19th, Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, has begun his trip to the United States. Chairman Chung entered the United States at New York's JFK International Airport on the 17th (local time) with his wife, flutist Han Ji-hee. He immediately moved to Washington, D.C., entering into both official and unofficial schedules as a congratulatory envoy for President Trump's inauguration.
Chairman Chung is expected to meet with various key figures in American politics and business, including President Trump's eldest son, Trump Jr., around the time of the inauguration. Previously, he had met Trump Jr. for the first time at Mar-a-Lago resort, the home of President Trump, where he stayed for six days and five nights in mid-December 2024 upon Trump Jr.'s invitation. He is the only businessman among domestic political and business figures to have met President Trump directly.
Kim Bum-seok, chairman of Coupang Inc., which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will also attend the inauguration, banquet, and ball. Coupang Inc. is the parent company of South Korea's Coupang. Although Chairman Kim could not attend Trump's first inauguration, he has been invited this time. He played a key role in growing Coupang into South Korea's largest e-commerce corporation while facilitating economic cooperation between South Korea and the United States.
Ryu Jin, chairman of Poongsan Group and president of the Korea Economic Association, boarded a flight to the United States the day before (18th) to attend the inauguration. Chairman Ryu, known as a U.S. expert in the business community, is said to have close ties with the Bush family within the Republican Party. It is reported that he will meet with both domestic and foreign political and business figures on site during the inauguration.
Heo Young-in, chairman of SPC Group, which is focused on business in the U.S., will also attend the inauguration. Woo Oh-hyun, chairman of SM Group, who attended Trump's first inauguration eight years ago, received an invitation to the inauguration through the recommendation of the Korea-U.S. Friendship Association.
At Hyundai Motor Group, Jose Munoz, president and CEO, currently residing in the United States, is known to be attending only the dinner before the inauguration. Hyundai Motor has previously donated $1 million (approximately 1.47 billion won) to the Trump inauguration.
Political figures will also attend the inauguration. A delegation of lawmakers from the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee departed for the U.S. the day before to attend President Trump's inauguration. The delegation, which comprises seven members including Kim Seok-ki, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the ruling People Power Party, along with lawmakers Kim Gi-hyun, Yoon Sang-hyun, and In Yo-han, as well as the Democratic Party's Cho Jung-sik, Kim Young-bae, and Hong Ki-won, will stay in the U.S. until the 22nd to discuss diplomatic and security issues such as the North Korean nuclear problem and the Korea-U.S. alliance, as well as economic cooperation.
From the People Power Party, lawmakers Na Kyung-won, Kang Min-guk, Jo Jeong-hoon, and Kim Dae-sik organized a diplomatic group and departed for the U.S. the day before. Kim Eun-hye, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, individually boarded a flight to the United States on the 17th to attend the inauguration. Additionally, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok have also been invited to the inauguration and will visit Washington, D.C.