Top Business Leaders Meet with President Lee Jae-myung to Discuss Economic Strategies

On June 13, 2025, the heads of South Korea's five largest conglomerates gathered at the Yongsan Presidential Office for a meeting with President Lee Jae-myung. The discussion focused on the need for public-private collaboration to address trade pressures from the United States. The business leaders expressed optimism regarding the new government's economic policies, citing a recent rise in the KOSPI index as a positive indicator.

During the two-hour meeting, which included a lunch of boxed meals, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong emphasized the importance of the President's pragmatic market-oriented philosophy, stating it would greatly benefit not only Samsung but all South Korean companies. He expressed confidence that the current economic crisis could be overcome through strong leadership and cooperation between the government and the private sector. Lee also reaffirmed Samsung's commitment to fulfilling its domestic investment and employment plans despite the challenging economic climate.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also serves as the head of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the significance of the meeting, hoping it would foster a collaborative spirit to turn crises into opportunities. He urged the government to continue listening to the voices of businesses as they work together to find solutions to economic challenges.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November, Chey mentioned plans to attract 1,700 foreign companies, describing the event as a vital platform for public-private cooperation. He noted the importance of government support in ensuring the success of the summit and pledged that the business community would leverage its global networks to enhance the country's standing on the international stage.

As the meeting progressed, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo requested that his comments be made in private, leading to a closed-door session for the remainder of the discussions.