Among the domestic business figures invited to the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, only some individuals, including Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, and Bom Kim, chairman of Coupang, were identified as having entered the indoor venue.
According to financial circles on the 20th (local time), Chairman Chung watched the inauguration ceremony via a live broadcast at the Capital One Arena, a gym located near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. It was reported that his wife, Han Ji-hee, and Kim Min-kyu, vice president of the Group's Management Strategy Office, were also in attendance. The Capital One Arena was set up for those invited to the inauguration to watch the ceremony, which was held in the Rotunda of the Capitol, via live stream, accommodating approximately 20,000 people.
Chairman Chung and his wife reportedly left early after being invited to a luncheon club hosted by Vice President JD Vance, attended by a select few prominent figures from politics and business. Vice President Vance, who has emerged as a key figure in the Trump administration's second term, is regarded as an heir to the 'MAGA' (Make America Great Again) ideology.
Chairman Bom Kim watched the inauguration ceremony in Emancipation Hall, another chamber within the U.S. Capitol. It was reported that he was invited as the CEO of Coupang Inc., a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange, and a global corporation that has invested in the Asia-Pacific region, including South Korea and Taiwan. In addition to Chairman Kim, over 1,000 prominent figures from U.S. politics and business were reported to be present in the Emancipation Hall.
Chairman Kim was initially selected as a witness for a hearing on 'improving working conditions for Coupang delivery workers, including late night work,' hosted by the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee on the 21st, but it is known that he submitted an absenteeism notice due to attending President Trump's inauguration.
In addition, it has been determined that Choi Jun-ho, vice chairman of Fashion Group Hyungji, also entered the Capital One Arena.
SPC Chairman Huh Young-in and SM Group Chairman Woo Oh-hyun, who were invited to the inauguration through the Korea-U.S. Friendship Association, reportedly did not receive admission tickets and watched the event from another location. An SPC representative stated that Chairman Huh normally attended previously scheduled meetings with U.S. congressmen and senior officials of the Trump administration.
The inauguration ceremony was originally scheduled to be held on an outdoor stage in front of the Capitol but was moved indoors to the Rotunda due to a polar cold snap, which caused temperatures to plummet below freezing. The capacity of the Rotunda is approximately 600 people, limiting attendance to former U.S. presidents, key political figures, and foreign leaders. Among the domestic attendees of the inauguration in the Rotunda, only Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyun-dong, representing the Korean government, was present.
On the same day, Chairman Chung Yong-jin and his wife also attended the 'Starlight' gala held in Union Station, the central station in Washington, D.C. Starlight is one of three major galas celebrating President Trump's inauguration, and it is a social event that only 'VIPs' (Very Important Persons) selected by Trump's team can attend. Chairman Chung, who was invited to the inauguration and the gala by Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., is considered the closest person to Trump among domestic political and business figures.
Among the attendees at the gala were also Chairman Bom Kim, Lee Yong-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, and Kim Seong-jip, chairman of BASS, a company that imports wine products produced by Trump Winery.