Lee holds private dinner with SK chief Chey Tae-won

President Lee Jae Myung held a private dinner meeting with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won on Thursday, just three weeks after the two met at an AI summit held in San Francisco in late July.

Lee and Chey met at an undisclosed location Thursday and exchanged views on major trade and industry issues, according to sources from both political and industry sectors. But the presidential office did not confirm details because it is "a private schedule."

The two likely discussed progress on the government’s three major megaprojects, namely the development of a semiconductor cluster in the Honam — which encompasses the southwestern Jeolla and Gwangju — region.

They are also likely to have shared updates on negotiations over Korea’s first investment project in the United States, details of which are expected to emerge soon. Energy projects are among the leading candidates for the first investment project linked to tariff negotiations between Korea and the United States.

Speculation has also recently emerged that the United States is asking Korea to include semiconductor investments among its investment projects in the country.

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, however, dismissed such speculation after returning from a trip to the United States on Thursday, saying semiconductors were not discussed during his meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Lee is expected to expand his outreach to Korea’s business community following his meeting with Chey. A series of meetings are anticipated with other major business leaders, including Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo.

BY KO SEUNG-PYO [[email protected]]