Jung Yong-jin Meets Trump: "Trust Korea and Wait, a Country with Great Potential"

First Meeting with Trump Among Korean Politicians, Diplomats, and Businesspeople Since the US Presidential Election

Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, who met with President-elect Donald Trump, said on the 22nd that when Trump Jr. and other close aides showed interest in the situation in Korea, he explained, "The Republic of Korea is a resilient country, so please trust and wait. It will quickly return to normal."

Chung Yong-jin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, poses after finishing an interview with Korean reporters before returning home at Atlanta International Airport, USA, on the 21st (local time). Photo by Yonhap News.

Chairman Chung responded this way when reporters at Incheon International Airport asked him in the afternoon whether there was interest in the Korean situation in the United States.

Invited by Trump Jr., Chairman Chung stayed for five nights and six days from the 16th at Mar-a-Lago Resort in Palm Beach, Florida, the residence of President-elect Donald Trump, and returned home that afternoon. Since the U.S. presidential election in November, Chairman Chung is the first Korean political, diplomatic, or business figure to publicly disclose having met with President-elect Trump.

Regarding this trip, Chairman Chung explained, "As you know, the visit to Mar-a-Lago was made at the invitation of Trump Jr. He introduced me to many people, allowing me to interact with many individuals and have long conversations."

However, he said, "I also met with President Trump, but I cannot disclose specific details." He added, "I met Elon Musk and exchanged brief greetings."

When asked if Musk showed interest in the Korean situation, Chairman Chung said, "He was not interested," and when asked how President-elect Trump and others view the Korean situation, he refrained from commenting, saying, "I am not in a position to speak that far."

Chairman Chung’s side clarified, "There was no direct discussion with President-elect Trump about the Korean political situation. However, when Trump Jr. and others around him asked first about the Korean situation, we explained that it is a 'resilient country.'"