SK head to attend global economic forum in Switzerland

SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won plans to attend an economic forum that opens in Switzerland later this week, the group said Tuesday, marking his first official overseas trip after a scandal surrounding his extramarital relationship.

Chey will participate in the World Economic Forum, scheduled to kick off Wednesday for a four-day run in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos, where thousands of state officials and business heads around the world will gather to discuss key global agenda.

SK Group said the visit is in line with the group's efforts to find new growth engines, adding its officials will join various energy-related sessions during the forum, along with the "Korea Night" function on the sidelines.

In late December, Chey admitted to having a child with an unidentified woman, adding he was going through divorce proceedings with his wife.

Since the announcement, Chey had taken a low-key stance, until he appeared at the group's New Year's ceremony earlier this month, where he vowed to continue groupwide efforts to overcome the prolonged economic slump.

SK Group said it also plans to hold meetings with officials from various segments, including the chemical, information-communications technology and semiconductor industries.

Other top South Korean officials, meanwhile, will also fly to Switzerland for the annual forum.

Choi Kyung-hwan, who served as the finance minister until earlier this month, will represent South Korea as a special presidential envoy at the forum. In 2014, President Park Geun-hye attended the Davos forum.

The forum, however, withdrew its rare invitation to North Korea, a move seen by some as the first of a concerted effort by the international community to penalize Pyongyang. North Korea conducted what it claimed is its first successful test of an H-bomb on Jan. 6.

colin@yna.co.kr
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