SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won seen dining with staff in Seoul's Euljiro district
In short
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won was photographed and filmed on 21 October eating with employees at an outdoor barbecue restaurant in Euljiro, Seoul, then moving to a nearby Jeju-food restaurant. Newsis and Seoul Shinmun reported that a video of the meal passed 1 million views on social media.
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SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won was seen eating with employees in Euljiro, in Seoul's Jung district, on 21 October, according to Korean outlets citing photos and videos posted on Instagram, online communities and other social media. Newsis and Chosun Ilbo, citing the business community, said the posts showed him eating and talking with employees at a barbecue restaurant in Euljiro. Chosun Ilbo and Korea Economic Daily named it as the main branch of Dalmaji Gwangjang Barbecue (달맞이광장 바베큐). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Newsis, Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun said Chey sat at an outdoor table in a khaki shirt and a padded vest. Newsis said he and the employees appeared to have had beer and soju with the barbecue, and Seoul Shinmun said they reportedly did. Newsis said the restaurant is known for outdoor night-time table service, which put Chey in a space visible to ordinary citizens. Korea Economic Daily said the Euljiro main branch stands in the area nicknamed 'Hipjiro', where young customers queue to eat. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Chey then moved to a nearby Jeju-food restaurant for what Newsis and Chosun Ilbo called a second gathering. Chosun Ilbo and Korea Economic Daily named the venue as the Euljiro branch of Jeju Chimsisulso (제주 침시술소). Korea Economic Daily described it as a buckwheat noodle restaurant. Newsis said the video showed Chey gesturing broadly as he spoke to employees, and Seoul Shinmun said he also laughed with them. Chosun Ilbo reported that he reportedly agreed to citizens' requests for photos. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Newsis and Seoul Shinmun said the video of Chey at the restaurant passed 1 million views. Seoul Shinmun said Euljiro is near SK Telecom's headquarters and described the employees as young. [ 2 , 4 ]
Newsis and Seoul Shinmun noted that Chey has met employees in public places before: in 2019 he held a 'Spontaneous Happiness Talk' (번개 행복토크), a free-form conversation with employees at a restaurant. They also reported that on the same day SK Hynix completed a share buyback worth 40 trillion won, about a month ahead of plan. SK Hynix had disclosed on 19 August that it would acquire 24.07 million common shares for a total of 40.00434 trillion won and cancel all of them. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The outlets present the evening as an informal contact between the chairman and employees and link it to a similar 2019 event. The documents give no company statement and no other consequence.
Key facts
- Photos and videos posted on social media showed SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won eating with employees on 21 October at a barbecue restaurant in Euljiro, Seoul. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The restaurant is Dalmaji Gwangjang Barbecue (달맞이광장 바베큐), whose Euljiro main branch is in the area nicknamed 'Hipjiro'. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Chey sat at an outdoor table wearing a khaki shirt and a padded vest. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He then moved to a nearby Jeju-food restaurant for a second gathering with the employees. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Newsis and Seoul Shinmun reported that the video of the meal exceeded 1 million views. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Newsis and Seoul Shinmun noted that Chey held a 'Spontaneous Happiness Talk' (번개 행복토크) with employees at a restaurant in 2019. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Chey Tae-won ate with employees at a restaurant in Euljiro, Seoul, on 21 October, according to four outlets citing social media posts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- After the barbecue restaurant, Chey moved to a nearby Jeju-food restaurant to continue with the employees. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The video of the meal passed 1 million views. [ 2 , 4 ]
- SK Hynix completed a buyback worth 40 trillion won on 21 October, about a month ahead of the original plan. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Chey drank beer and soju at the meal. Newsis said they appeared to; Seoul Shinmun said it was 'known' that they did. Neither cites a confirmed account.
- Whether Chey agreed to photo requests from citizens at the scene. Chosun Ilbo said he 'reportedly' did, and a Seoul Shinmun caption says he took photos with citizens; neither describes the source.
- The purpose and occasion of the gathering. The documents describe it as a meal or gathering with employees and give no statement from SK Group or Chey.