Shinsegae's Chung Yong-jin attends Foundry School launch in Washington

Shinsegae Group said Friday that Chairman Chung Yong-jin attended a US Department of State event focused on developing talent in manufacturing and advanced industries, where he discussed ways to strengthen AI supply chains with global political and business leaders.

Chung attended the Foundry School launch at the Trump Peace Institute in Washington on Thursday (local time), at the invitation of US Vice President J.D. Vance and the State Department. The Foundry School is a State Department-led industry-academia-government initiative aimed at cultivating talent in manufacturing and advanced industries.

Shinsegae Group signed a strategic partnership with Reflection AI in March to build an AI data center in South Korea. Reflection AI plays a central role in US plans to restructure its AI supply chain. At the launch, the State Department outlined its vision to build new supply chains alongside trusted partners in the spirit of co-founders.

Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg met with Chung at the event and said the partnership between Shinsegae Group and Reflection AI was "an important milestone in Korea-US cooperation in advanced industries," adding that Chung was "a strong partner in the AI supply chain alliance."

The Foundry School is one of the action strategies underpinning Pax Silica, an economic security multilateral consultative body launched in December last year. Through Pax Silica, the United States aims to restructure the entire technology supply chain — spanning semiconductors, AI, advanced manufacturing and energy — around trusted allies. South Korea joined Pax Silica alongside key US partners including Japan, Australia, Singapore, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Vice President Vance, speaking as a keynote at the launch, said "industrial security is national security." Secretary of State Marco Rubio then said achieving the goal of reindustrialization would require universities, industry and government to move together, adding that "the Foundry School will be a long-term project."

Reflection AI founder and CEO Misha Laskin singled out Chung during a panel discussion to express his gratitude. Laskin said the collaboration with Shinsegae Group under Chung's leadership was "a great example of how the US and its allies can actually move together," while also demonstrating a strong Korea-US partnership in action.

The AI data center collaboration between Shinsegae Group and Reflection AI has drawn attention as the first project under the State Department's AI export program. The two companies are currently working on practical steps including establishing a joint venture and selecting a site.

At the event, Chung held discussions on the importance of Korea-US cooperation for the success of the Pax Silica project with Laskin, Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, House Republican Floor Leader Steve Scalise, Under Secretary Helberg and Meta President Dina Powell McCormick, among others.

"Successfully leading the advanced-industry supply chain alliance centered on the United States is the defining task of our time," Chung said. "If Korea and the United States join forces, we can generate far greater synergy."

On the Foundry School, Chung said the collaboration between Shinsegae Group and Reflection AI aligned with the program's goals. "Talented people are essential for advanced industries like AI to thrive, and Shinsegae Group will attract and develop that talent through relentless creative innovation," he said.