The chairman of South Korea’s SPC Group has been invited to attend the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled to take place on January 20 (local time) in Washington, D.C.
The invitation was extended following a recommendation by the Korea-America Alliance Friendship Association, recognizing the chairman’s active role in fostering economic collaboration between the two nations. During his visit, the chairman plans to attend the inauguration ceremony and engage with U.S. lawmakers interested in the Korean economy to strengthen bilateral networks.
This is not the first encounter between SPC Group’s chairman and Trump. In 2019, during Trump’s visit to South Korea, the two met at a roundtable with Korean business leaders.
SPC Group’s flagship brand, Paris Baguette, has been operating in the U.S. since 2005 and now boasts approximately 200 locations. Recently, SPC announced a $160 million investment to build a local baking facility in Burleson, Texas. Its affiliate, SPC Samlip, exports popular Korean foods such as steamed buns, cream bread, and yakgwa to the U.S.
The group has also successfully introduced prominent American brands like Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’, and Shake Shack to the Korean market. With Trump’s second term, SPC plans to expand its investments and activities in the U.S.
SPC Group is also active in private diplomacy between the two nations. In 2023, the company, alongside the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), signed an MOU with New York City to support economically disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
In a related development, Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin, who stayed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, late last year at the invitation of Trump’s eldest son, is also set to attend the inauguration.
