Exclusive Meeting with Trump Group Executive Vice President... 30-Minute Conversation at Centerfield
Moon Juhyun, Known as the "Korean Trump," Signals Global Real Estate Cooperation
Industry Eyes Potential for Joint Development and Investment Collaboration
Moon Juhyun, Chairman of MDM Group, the largest real estate development company in South Korea, met with Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, at a location in Gangnam, Seoul, on April 30. This marks the first exchange between leading developers from Korea and the United States since President Trump's election. The industry is closely watching the potential for expanded cooperation in real estate development going forward.
Moon Juhyun, Chairman of MDM Group (left), and Donald Trump Jr. Photo by Asia Economy and Donald Trump Jr. X.
According to the development industry on April 30, Chairman Moon and Donald Trump Jr. held a private meeting for about 30 minutes that morning at Centerfield in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is reported that the meeting took place at the Josun Palace Hotel in Centerfield. The Josun Palace Hotel is where Donald Trump Jr. is staying and is operated by Shinsegae Group, led by Chairman Chung Yongjin, who invited Trump Jr. An MDM official stated, "We understand that they discussed real estate development."
Donald Trump Jr. is the Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization. He is a key figure overseeing the group’s global real estate, hotel, and golf resort businesses. He has personally led major projects such as Trump Tower in Mumbai, India, and the hotel in Vancouver, Canada. He is also known for having studied economics at the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania).
Chairman Moon is a first-generation developer in South Korea and leads MDM Group, the country’s largest real estate development company. MDM Group has established a comprehensive real estate platform encompassing development, REITs, trusts, finance, and project management, and in 2021 became the first developer to be designated as a large business group by the Fair Trade Commission. Chairman Moon is also nicknamed the "Korean Trump," a reference to President Trump, who as a developer was involved in developing and remodeling high-rise buildings, hotels, casinos, and golf courses.
The industry expects that this meeting between Chairman Moon and Donald Trump Jr. could serve as a catalyst for more active real estate investment and development cooperation between the two countries. An industry insider commented, "It is highly symbolic for a Korean developer to have direct contact with a global player," adding, "There is a high possibility that this could lead to joint projects or overseas market expansion in the future."
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