President Kim Dongwon and Vice President Kim Dongseon Also Attend the Meeting
Expectations for Business Cooperation in Defense, Shipbuilding, and Energy
Business Community Anticipates Meeting on the 30th
On April 30, Kim Dongkwan, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group, along with his two brothers, had a private meeting with Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump. Donald Trump Jr., who arrived in South Korea the previous day, is scheduled to meet with various business leaders in the country. Through this meeting, Hanwha Group is expected to lay the groundwork for expanding cooperation with the United States in the defense, energy, and shipbuilding sectors.
According to business industry sources, Vice Chairman Kim met with Trump Jr. at the Josun Palace Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, accompanied by Kim Dongwon, President of Hanwha Life Insurance, and Kim Dongseon, Vice President of Hanwha Galleria. The specific details of their conversation and the duration of the meeting were not disclosed. In January, Vice Chairman Kim Dongkwan also attended President Trump’s inauguration ceremony, the Candlelight Dinner, and the Starlight Ball in Washington, D.C., where he communicated with key government officials and figures from both the political and business sectors.
This meeting is believed to have originated from Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seungyeon’s long-standing relationship with Edwin Feulner, Chairman of the Heritage Foundation, a Republican think tank in the United States. Feulner is currently serving as an outside director at Hanwha and maintains a close relationship with Trump Jr.
The meeting is also interpreted as part of Hanwha Group’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the U.S. defense and energy markets following the launch of the Trump administration’s second term. Hanwha Group has already established a large-scale solar production facility, the ‘Solar Hub,’ in Georgia, and is pursuing localized production of the K-9 self-propelled howitzer. Hanwha Ocean is also seeking to expand cooperation with the U.S. shipbuilding industry, amid speculation about a possible visit by the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. An industry official stated, “By strengthening its network with the Trump administration, Hanwha Group could secure a favorable position for expanding its defense and energy businesses in the U.S. market,” adding, “This meeting could become a turning point for strategic cooperation between South Korea and the United States.”
Donald Trump Jr.’s visit to South Korea was made at the invitation of Chung Yongjin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, with whom he has a close relationship. This is Trump Jr.’s first visit to South Korea since President Trump’s inauguration in January of this year. After arriving at Gimpo Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the previous day, Trump Jr. attended a dinner hosted by Chairman Chung, and stayed at the Josun Palace Seoul Gangnam, a hotel operated by a Shinsegae Group affiliate, in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Within the business community, attention is focused on the extent and nature of contact between Trump Jr., who is regarded as a key figure behind the scenes in the Trump administration’s second term, and domestic business leaders, especially amid growing global uncertainty due to President Trump’s reciprocal tariff policies. However, during this visit, Trump Jr. is not expected to meet with any South Korean political or government officials.
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