Chaebol leaders travel light to Pyongyang

2024-06-23 10:34:49      点击：886

LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, right, and SK Chairman Chey Tae-won are among President Moon Jae-in's entourage in Pyongyang. Yonhap

By Oh Young-jin

Top business leaders accompanying President Moon Jae-in on his three-day summit trip to North Korea Tuesday, were traveling light. They boarded the presidential flight at Seoul Airport in eastern Seoul.

A dozen business leaders are included in the presidential entourage, but three stood out: Samsung leader Lee Jae-yong, SK's Chey Tae-won and LG's Koo Kwang-mo.

Lee's trip is controversial because he is being tried for allegedly buying influence from former President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached and is standing trial. Lee was carrying a leather brief case.

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Chey carried a hard briefcase, while Koo, who became LG leader after his father's recent death, had a soft briefcase.

Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, second from right, waits to board the presidential flight for Pyongyang. Yonhap

Because of their three-day stay, they had already checked in their larger luggage, but the number of pieces was restricted due to space constraints on the presidential flight.

It is reported that the North wanted the business leaders to come to Pyongyang because leader Kim Jong-un wants to focus on economic development.

However, the business leaders believe they will be unable to do anything significant, because of international sanctions imposed on the North for its nuclear and missile programs.