Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics (photo=Samsung Group)

 

[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Jisun] Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun played the role of civilian diplomats by meeting with U.S. Senators to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between South Korean and U.S. companies.

On the 4th, Chairman Lee met with a group of U.S. Senators visiting South Korea for the second Korea-U.S.-Japan Economic Dialogue (TED) at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. The meeting took place at the Samsung residence in Hannam-dong, where discussions centered on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations' businesses.

The U.S. delegation included Republican Senators Bill Hagerty (Tennessee), John Thune (South Dakota), Dan Sullivan (Alaska), Katie Britt (Alabama), and Eric Schmitt (Missouri), along with Democratic Senators Chris Coons (Delaware) and Gary Peters (Michigan). Samsung executives, including Jeon Young-hyun, head of the DS division, and John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics, were also in attendance.

Chairman Lee has regularly engaged with key figures in the U.S. political and business sectors to discuss global economic issues, U.S. industrial policies, and investment strategies. Notably, during a visit to the U.S. in 2021, he held a series of meetings with top U.S. officials, including those at the White House and Congress, to discuss mutual cooperation in resolving global semiconductor supply chain issues.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won met the Senators at SK's headquarters in Seoul's Jongno District the previous day. Last October, Chey had similarly met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other senators to discuss economic cooperation.

During the meeting, Chairman Chey emphasized SK Group's significant contributions to both nations' development. He highlighted SK's role in building semiconductor ecosystems in both South Korea and the U.S., which he believes will enhance AI leadership in both countries. Chey also noted the importance of SK's energy business, including batteries, in contributing to global economic growth and security.

The U.S. Senators expressed their hopes for continued cooperation between the two nations in various fields. They stated that the strong trust built through the Korea-U.S. alliance would significantly contribute to the joint development of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, as well as global prosperity.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun attended the TED event at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, where he engaged with U.S. and Japanese officials and business leaders to discuss economic cooperation. U.S. participants included Senator Hagerty and Qualcomm President Alex Rogers, while Japan was represented by Tetsuo Ogawa, CEO of Toyota's North American operations.

The South Korean delegation included Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, Trade Negotiation Chief Jeong In-kyo, Ryu Jin, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation and Poongsan Group, Jeong Ki-seon, Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai, Yoo Jeong-jun, Vice Chairman of SK On, and Hong Beom-sik, President of LG.
 

 

 

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