President Moon Meets Heads of 4 Major Groups... Attention on Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's Pardon Mention

청 초청 오찬, 삼성은 김기남 부회장 참석…"기업이 미국에서 성과 내려면 정부가 도와줄 부분 있어"

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in invited the heads of the four major conglomerates to the Blue House for a luncheon.

The luncheon, which began at 12 noon on the 2nd, was attended by Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group; Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group; and Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group. Representing Samsung in place of Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was Kim Ki-nam, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (DS) division.

At the Blue House, Chief Secretary Yoo Young-min, Policy Chief Lee Ho-seung, and Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs Ahn Il-hwan were present. This was the first time since his inauguration that President Moon met exclusively with the heads of the four major conglomerates.

The purpose of the luncheon was to express the President’s gratitude for the four major groups’ decision to invest in the United States following last month’s Korea-US summit. Additionally, discussions were held on whether the government could provide support after the investments.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The luncheon carried the meaning of appreciation for the four major groups’ contribution to the success of the Korea-US summit by making large-scale investments totaling $40 billion in key sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, and electric vehicles in the United States. A Blue House official said, "If companies are to achieve results in the US, there are areas where the government can assist."

Meanwhile, there is keen interest in whether any progress was made regarding the pardon of Vice Chairman Lee during the luncheon. President Moon stated in his special speech on the 4th anniversary of his inauguration on the 10th of last month, "I have heard many opinions regarding the pardon of Vice Chairman Lee."

Earlier in April, Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, first requested the pardon of Vice Chairman Lee during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki, and subsequently, five economic organizations formally submitted a request for the pardon.