Meeting with Senior White House Officials
Shinsegae Group announced on December 14 that Chairman Chung Yongjin attended a Christmas dinner hosted by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, where he discussed cooperation measures regarding the U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) export program with White House officials.
Chung Yongjin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group (right), is taking a commemorative photo with J.D. Vance, Vice President of the United States, at a Christmas dinner. Provided by Shinsegae Group
The event, held on the evening of December 12 local time at Vice President Vance's official residence in Washington, D.C., was attended by senior White House officials including Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce; Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense; Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff; and Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff. Business leaders such as Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, and Shyam Sankar, Chief Operating Officer of Palantir, were also present.
Before the dinner with Vice President Vance, Chairman Chung visited the White House and met with senior officials including Michael Kratsios, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Director Kratsios previously served as the U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering during the first Trump administration, and is currently responsible for the U.S. government’s AI strategy in the second Trump administration. He is also known as a key figure in Peter Thiel’s network, having served as Chief Operating Officer of Thiel Capital.
During his meeting with Director Kratsios, Chairman Chung discussed cooperation measures for the U.S. AI export program. In October, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the launch of the "America AI Exports Program," which aims to export AI technology systems as a comprehensive package worldwide. During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week in October 2025, South Korea and the United States signed the "Korea-U.S. Technology Prosperity Deal (TPD)," expanding cooperation in the AI sector, including the export of U.S. AI technology systems. Chairman Chung expressed interest in adopting advanced technologies for the modernization of distribution during the meeting.
Jung Yongjin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group (left), is taking a commemorative photo with Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, at the Christmas dinner. Photo by Shinsegae Group
Meanwhile, Christopher Buskirk, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of 1789 Capital and co-founder of Rockbridge Network with Vice President Vance, also attended the Christmas dinner. Buskirk is scheduled to visit South Korea next month to meet with Rockbridge Network Korea members and is expected to officially join the board of directors.
Rockbridge Network was established in South Korea following its founding in the United States, and is currently in the process of being set up in Japan, Taiwan, and other countries. Chairman Chung serves as the Asia Chairman of Rockbridge Network and has joined the board of directors of Rockbridge Network Korea, which was officially launched as a think tank in October.
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