SK chief discusses economic cooperation with U.S. senate delegation

Chairman Chey Tae-won of SK Group (center right) is discussing economic cooperation with a delegation of U.S. Senators at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd. [Courtesy of SK]

Chey Tae-won, chairman of South Korea’s SK Group, met with the U.S. senate delegation visiting Seoul and sought bipartisan support for Korean companies.

According to the conglomerate on Wednesday, Chey met with seven U.S. senators, including Senator Bill Hagerty, at its office building in Jongno, central Seoul, on Tuesday.

During the meeting, they shared a wide range of ideas to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.

“This is the second time I’ve welcomed a delegation of U.S. senators since last year,” Chey said.

The chairman had met with a U.S. senate delegation, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in October last year.

On Tuesday, Chey introduced SK Group’s major businesses and emphasized its comprehensive contributions to the development of both countries.

”SK Group is building a semiconductor ecosystem in both Korea and the United States, which will also contribute to strengthening AI leadership in both countries,” he said. “SK’s energy business is also growing on a global scale, and the energy sector, including batteries, is critical not only for the economy but also for security.”

The U.S. senators also expressed their hope for continued cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

They noted that the two countries have a strong relationship of trust across all areas and that Korean companies play an increasingly important role in the development of both countries.

They added that they believe this development will greatly contribute to the joint development of the two countries, as well as the trilateral alliance including Japan and global prosperity, according to SK Group.

Chey has been consistently engaging with influential figures in global politics and business to discuss ways to promote economic cooperation.

The Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, where Chey serves as chairman, has been hosting the Trans-Pacific Dialogue (TPD) annually in the U.S. since 2021, bringing together high-ranking current and former officials from Korea, the U.S., and Japan, as well as leading global scholars, think tanks, and business leaders to discuss international issues and explore solutions for cooperation.