Coupang's Kim Beom-seok Attends Private Reception with Trump Jr... Meets with Nominees for Secretary of State and Commerce

by Park Joonyi

Published 19 Jan.2025 13:13(KST)

The Only Korea-Related Business Leader Among the Attendees

Kim Beom-seok, chairman and founder of Coupang, attended a private reception held in Washington DC by Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President-elect Donald Trump, where he met with Trump Jr. and nominees for the Secretary of State and Commerce positions.

According to diplomatic sources in Washington on the 18th (local time), Chairman Kim attended the reception held the previous day at the Conrad Washington DC Hotel, which was attended by about 200 people, including around 50 appointees for the second Trump administration.

Also present at the event were Marco Rubio, nominee for Secretary of State, Howard Lutnick, nominee for Secretary of Commerce, and Scott Bessent, nominee for Secretary of the Treasury.

Chairman Kim Beom-seok of Coupang meets with the Secretary of State nominee. Photo by Washington Correspondents Group

Chairman Kim discussed Coupang's logistics infrastructure and job creation in Korea, Taiwan, and other regions with Trump Jr. and the ministerial nominees. They also exchanged views on direct investment and business environments in key Asian countries such as Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.

Among the attendees, Chairman Kim was the only Korean-related businessperson, and it is reported that he is the first Korean CEO to have one-on-one meetings with key ministerial nominees of the second Trump administration.