Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, and other business leaders will gather this week in London, UK, and Paris, France. They will accompany President Yoon Suk-yeol as an economic delegation during his overseas trip, lending their full support in the final push ahead of the decision on the host city for the 2030 World Expo.
According to the business community on the 19th, Chairman Lee departed for London on the same day. This marks his first public appearance since the verdict trial on unfair mergers and accounting fraud on the 17th.
Chairman Lee is expected to join the economic delegation aligned with President Yoon’s state visit to the UK, attending the Korea-UK Business Forum and engaging in various business meetings.
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun is also scheduled to accompany President Yoon as part of the economic delegation during the UK state visit. LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo will join as well.
Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, who is effectively based in Paris to promote the Busan Expo bid and is handling meetings with neighboring countries, is reportedly unable to join the UK state visit schedule due to his Expo-related activities.
President Yoon will visit the UK from the 20th to the 23rd (local time) upon the first state invitation from King Charles III. His itinerary includes a speech to Parliament, a banquet and dinner at Buckingham Palace, and a summit meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. 'Sales diplomacy' events such as the Korea-UK Business Forum are also planned.
The economic delegation, including Chairman Lee, is expected to focus on exploring bilateral cooperation in advanced industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), space, and biotechnology. Chairman Lee, Chairman Chung, and Chairman Koo are reported to travel together to Paris, France, the next destination of President Yoon. Following June, business leaders will once again gather in Paris, home to the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE), to leverage their global networks in a final concerted effort to secure the Busan Expo. Chairman Choi is also likely to join this effort.
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