Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin said Saturday he had a conversation with US 

Chung Yong-jin, chairman of South Korean retail conglomerate Shinsegae Group, speaks to reporters at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Saturday. (Yonhap)


President-elect Donald Trump at Trump's Florida resort last week, but kept the details of the discussion private.


He is the first Korean business leader known to have spoken with Trump since his election victory.


On his way back to Korea at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the US on Saturday, Chung shared with Yonhap News Agency that he had "a 10-to-15-minute in-depth discussion on various topics" with the president-elect during his stay at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Thursday.


He, however, declined to disclose specific details of their conversation.


“He asked me a lot of questions, but I cannot reveal what they were,” Chung told the reporters. When asked whether Trump mentioned anything related to Korea, Chung replied, "Nothing in particular.”


He did not mention the names of Trump’s close allies and key figures from his election campaign who were also at the resort.


Regarding his potential role as a bridge between the Korean business community and the incoming US president, he stated that he was not in a position to take on such a responsibility. He clarified that the Korean government had not asked him to convey any message to Trump.


According to the Korean retail giant, the chief’s visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort on Dec. 16 came at the invitation of Donald Trump Jr., with whom Chung has a close connection, marking their fourth meeting this year.


Chung said that during his visit, his discussions with Trump Jr. focused on business matters and religious topics.


“Donald Trump Jr. introduced me to many people with whom I discussed business matters,” Chung remarked.


Originally planned as a four-day stay ending Thursday, Chung's visit was extended to Saturday. His stay fueled media speculation about a potential meeting with the president-elect.


Chung's meeting with the incoming US president, coupled with his established ties with Trump Jr., has thrust him into the spotlight as a key figure with a connection to the Trump inner circle.



By No Kyung-min (minmin@heraldcorp.com)