Washington: Chung Yong-jin, chairman of South Korean retail conglomerate Shinsegae Group, has left for the United States to attend a Christmas dinner hosted by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, the group announced Friday. Chung is set to participate in the year-end event at the vice president's residence in Washington.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the dinner, scheduled for Friday evening (U.S. time), will serve as a platform for Chung to continue leveraging his global network to support the growth of Shinsegae Group and the South Korean economy. The gathering will include U.S. government officials, business leaders, and members of the Rockbridge Network, an organization founded by Vance.

Chung holds the position of Asia chairman of the Rockbridge Network and serves on the board of Rockbridge Network Korea, a think tank established in October. Additionally, he is known to have a close personal relationship with Donald Trump Jr., U.S. President Donald Trump's eldest son, and they are reportedly on a first-name basis.