Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, attended a talent development event for manufacturing and advanced industries hosted by the U.S. State Department, where he discussed ways to strengthen the artificial intelligence (AI) supply chain with global leaders.
According to Shinsegae Group, Chung participated in the launch ceremony of the 'Foundry School' on September 3 (local time) at the Trump Peace Institute in Washington, D.C.
The Foundry School is a project jointly planned by the U.S. State Department and Stanford University to cultivate talent in the manufacturing and advanced industries. It is part of the U.S.-led economic security multilateral initiative 'Pax Silica,' aimed at fostering entrepreneurs, engineers, and skilled workers in advanced manufacturing through collaboration between government, industry, and academia. South Korea is participating in Pax Silica alongside Japan, Australia, Singapore, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Chung was invited to the launch ceremony by U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The event was attended by key figures including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, and Jacob Helberg, the State Department's economic deputy. Industry representatives included Dina Powell McCormick, president of Meta, Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology, and Gary Dickerson, CEO of Applied Materials.
During the event, Helberg met with Chung and stated, "The partnership between Shinsegae Group and Reflection AI is a significant milestone for U.S.-Korea cooperation in advanced industries. Chairman Chung Yong-jin is a strong partner in the AI supply chain alliance."
Mischa Laskin, CEO of Reflection AI, highlighted the collaboration with Shinsegae Group as an example of the U.S.-Korea partnership. He remarked, "The ongoing collaboration with Shinsegae Group under Chairman Chung's leadership exemplifies a robust U.S.-Korea partnership and demonstrates how the U.S. and its allies can effectively collaborate."
In March, Shinsegae Group established a partnership with the U.S. AI startup Reflection AI for a large-scale AI data center project in South Korea. They are currently working on practical tasks such as establishing a joint venture and site selection. This project has garnered attention as the first initiative under the State Department's 'AI Export Program,' which aims for the global dissemination of trustworthy AI.
Chung emphasized the importance of U.S.-Korea cooperation in advanced industries during discussions with key attendees, including Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, Deputy Helberg, and CEO Laskin.
He stated, "Successfully leading the advanced industry supply chain alliance centered around the United States is a historic task. By joining forces, South Korea and the United States can create greater synergy."
Chung added, "The collaboration between Shinsegae Group and Reflection AI aligns with the goals of the Foundry School. To advance industries represented by AI, it is essential to attract and nurture talented individuals, and Shinsegae Group will continue to gather and develop talent through relentless creative innovation."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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