Trump Jr. Visits Korea at Invitation of Shin Yongjin, Holds Series of Meetings with Business Leaders (Comprehensive)

Two-Day Visit Marks Return After Eight Months Since Last August
Meetings Scheduled on the 30th with Major Conglomerate Leaders
Around 20 Key Figures Expected to Attend
One-on-One Meetings Likely, Each Lasting 30 Minutes to an Hour

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, arrived in South Korea on the afternoon of the 29th. Invited by Shin Yongjin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, Trump Jr. will spend two days and one night in South Korea, during which he is expected to hold a series of meetings with the heads of major domestic conglomerates.

Trump Jr. entered the country on a chartered flight through the Gimpo Business Aviation Center in Seoul at around 6:25 p.m. that day. Wearing a black cap and a long-sleeved shirt, he quickly exited the airport after completing a brief entry process. He reportedly headed straight to Chairman Shin's residence for a dinner with Shin and his wife.

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, is arriving on the 29th through the Gimpo Business Aviation Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Invited by Shin Yongjin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, Trump Jr. is scheduled to have individual meetings with heads of major South Korean conglomerates. April 30, 2025. Photo by Airport Press Photographers Group

This visit marks Trump Jr.'s return to South Korea eight months after he attended the political conference "Build Up Korea 2024," organized by a conservative youth group in August last year. It is also his first visit since President Trump took office in January.

On the following day, the 30th, Trump Jr. is scheduled to hold private, closed-door meetings with major conglomerate leaders at an undisclosed location in Seoul. It is reported that executives from companies with significant U.S. business interests?such as those in the semiconductor, automotive, energy, electronics, steel, and defense industries?have shown interest in meeting with Trump Jr.

Each meeting is expected to last approximately 30 minutes to an hour per person. While about 20 executives, including heads of the top 10 conglomerates, are mentioned as potential participants, industry sources note that the number may be reduced due to the short duration of Trump Jr.'s visit. An industry insider commented, "Rather than a roundtable format where all participants are seated together, it is expected to be one-on-one meetings with Trump Jr., each lasting about an hour. Considering the overall schedule and the availability of the executives, the list of participants and the number of meetings may be adjusted."

Among the top 10 conglomerate leaders, Chung Euisun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, is reportedly unable to attend due to overseas commitments. Shin Dongbin, chairman of Lotte Group, is currently visiting Indonesia as the head of the Korea Economic Association's economic delegation, making his participation uncertain. Jeong Kisun, senior vice chairman of HD Hyundai, is also expected to be unable to arrange a meeting as he is scheduled to tour HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan shipyard with U.S. Secretary of the Navy John P. Pelland, who is visiting South Korea the same day.

An aircraft carrying Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., is landing at Gimpo Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul on the 29th. Invited by Shin Yongjin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, Trump Jr. is scheduled to have individual meetings with heads of major domestic conglomerates. April 29, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

It is reported that during this visit, Trump Jr. has no plans to meet with political or government officials in South Korea. In order to meet with such officials abroad, prior consultation with the White House is required, but no such procedures have taken place, and there are no plans for such consultations in the future.

Meanwhile, Chairman Shin, who arranged this visit, is expected to accompany Trump Jr. for nearly all of his activities. Shin and Trump Jr. are known to share a particularly close relationship, including a special religious bond as fellow Protestants.

Previously, in December last year, Chairman Shin visited Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, the residence of President Trump, at Trump Jr.'s invitation. During that visit, Shin also met with President Trump, who was then president-elect. In January, Shin visited Washington, D.C. for President Trump's inauguration and, through Trump Jr., met with several influential U.S. political and government figures.