US President Donald Trump spent Saturday playing golf with some of South Korea’s most powerful business leaders, in what analysts say could be a move to boost trade and investment ties between the two countries.
According to the Pulse, the English service of Maeil business newspaper Korea, the round took place at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. It is the first known occasion a sitting US president has played golf with Korean corporate executives.
Reported attendees included Samsung Electronics executive chairman Jay Y Lee, SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Euisun Chung, LG Group chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Hanwha Group vice chairman Kim Dong-kwan.
The meeting was organised by SoftBank Group chairman Masayoshi Son.
According to the White House press pool, Trump arrived at 9:15 AM and stayed until 4:50 PM, spending about seven hours at the club. This marked his 11th round at the course since returning to office.
The Korean executives reportedly travelled together in a limousine bus rather than in private cars. After Trump left, the bus was seen heading to a luxury hotel on Palm Beach Island, where Son and aides from the Korean delegation were later spotted.
While the full agenda remains unknown, sources say the event was more than just a social gathering.
"It's likely that President Trump held in-depth discussions with the heads of major Korean companies," an industry source said. "Given that all the country's top business leaders were present, the meeting probably went beyond a simple round of golf."
The meeting comes as Seoul and Washington near the final stages of trade talks. It also coincides with South Korean conglomerates expanding significant investments in the US, including in semiconductors, batteries, automobiles, and energy.
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