Jung Yong-jin, Ryu Jin, Woo Oh-hyun, Heo Young-in, and Kim Beom-seok are going to Trump's inauguration ceremony.

[Anchor]
Who will attend Trump's inauguration as president in our business community?

Chairman Chung Yong-jin of Shinsegae Group, who drew attention by visiting the Mar-a-Lago resort, and
Chairman Ryu Jin of Pungsan Group
, Chairman Woo Oh-hyun of SM Group, Chairman Heo Young-in of SPC Group, Chairman Kim Bum-seok of Coupang and Vice Chairman Hyungji Choi Jun-ho received invitations.

Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Eui-sun, who donated $1 million to the inauguration ceremony, is not going to the inauguration ceremony, but is pushing for a private meeting.

Reporter Oh Dong-gun reports.

[Reporter]
Our business leaders known to have been invited to Trump's inauguration ceremony are Ryu Jin, chairman of Pungsan Group, SM Woo Oh-hyun, chairman of Shinsegae Chung Yong-jin, chairman of SPC Heo Young-in, vice chairman Hyungji Choi Joon-ho, and chairman of Coupang Kim Bum-seok.

The so-called "American Tong" Chairman Ryu Jin has a very deep relationship with U.S. Republican figures, and Chairman Heo Young-in and Chairman Woo Oh-hyun were invited by the Korea-U.S. Alliance Friendship Association, and Chairman Woo Hyun of the Friendship Association is the younger brother of Chairman Woo Oh-hyun.

Chairman Kim Bum-seok of Coupang and Vice Chairman Hyungji Choi Joon-ho will also attend.

Shinsegae Chairman Chung Yong-jin is close to Trump's eldest son, Trump Jr., and has been invited not only to the inauguration but also to the ball.

Chairman Kim Sung-jip of Base, who runs wine importers, will also attend the ball with four family members due to his relationship with Trump Jr.

Trump, who has emphasized protectionism and U.S.-first policies.

For Korean companies, the inauguration ceremony is an important opportunity to grasp the keynote of the Trump administration and come up with countermeasures.

[Lee In-cheol/Reference: In the case of companies that may now be directly affected, such as the IRA Inflation Reduction Act, they need to break through various diplomatic channels and some negotiation channels with Trump aides and senior Trump officials.]

Expectations are also growing for Chairman Chung Yong-jin, who has already visited the Mar-a-Lago resort and met with President-elect Trump.

[Jung Yong-jin / Shinsegae Group Chairman: Trump Jr. introduced me to many people, so I had a long time to interact with many people.]

Chairman Chung drew the line that he was only a businessman on his way home at the time, but there is a possibility that he may play various roles depending on the situation.

All five major groups, Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, and LG, did not receive invitations.

Instead, Hyundai Motor Group donated $1 million to the inauguration ceremony through its local subsidiary.

This is to match the stride with other automakers such as Toyota and GM, which have already donated the same amount.

Chairman Chung Eui-sun, who will not attend the inauguration ceremony, is instead pushing for a private meeting with Trump.

This is YTN Oh Dong-gun.

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video: Eunkyung Lee
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