Former U.S. Lawmakers to Visit Korea in Large Numbers; Kim Chang-joon U.S.-Korea Institute Invites FMC Delegation

[Financial News] Former U.S. representatives will visit Korea for 10 days starting on the 8th and take part in a people-to-people diplomacy program, meeting with prominent figures in the country. On the 6th, the Kim Chang-joon U.S.-Korea Institute said it had invited the 11th delegation to Korea of the Former Members of Congress association, made up of former U.S. representatives.
The 11th delegation includes former U.S. representatives David Trone, Jeff Miller, Ron Klein, Mimi Walters, Elizabeth Esty and Greg Pence, as well as FMC CEO Peter Weichlein. The delegation brings together members of the Democratic and Republican parties in a bipartisan group. It represents a range of fields, including politics, business, finance, energy, advanced technology, manufacturing and defense.
Former Representative Greg Pence is the older brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, who served as vice president in the first Trump administration. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and gaining experience in the energy industry and business management, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. In Congress, he worked on major industrial policies, particularly in the areas of energy and commerce, including energy and manufacturing.
Former Representative David Trone is a businessman-turned-politician who, with his brothers, founded Total Wine & More, the largest independent wine and spirits distributor in the United States, and grew it into one of the country’s leading large retailers, with annual revenue of about $6.2 billion (approximately 8 trillion won). He later entered the U.S. House of Representatives, where he worked on economic and budget issues, among other areas.
The delegation also includes Jeff Miller, an eight-term representative who chaired the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; Ron Klein, who worked in financial services and diplomacy; Mimi Walters, who has experience in investment banking and the energy industry; and former Representative Elizabeth Esty, who worked on policy concerning advanced technology, R&D, manufacturing and infrastructure.
“What matters is not how many people you know, but how those relationships can benefit Korea and the United States,” said Kim Chang-joon, the institute’s chairman. “We will make sure that the trust and network we have built provide practical help to our companies seeking opportunities in the U.S. market as well.”
Launched in 2019, the FMC program for visits by former lawmakers brings former U.S. federal lawmakers to Korea to visit the National Assembly, local governments, businesses and industrial sites, as well as sites related to the U.S.-Korea alliance and Korean culture and history. This year’s visit will include a business roundtable with Korean businesspeople and former lawmakers, as well as visits to major industrial sites.
The 10 previous visits have brought 53 former U.S. federal lawmakers to Korea. Of those, 38 have served as honorary ambassadors for the Kim Chang-joon U.S.-Korea Institute and maintained ties with Korea after their visits. The institute places greater importance on building lasting relationships with people who have expertise and hands-on experience in their respective fields than on the size of the visiting delegation.
The FMC program’s defining feature is that it does not treat visits to Korea as one-off events, but turns the connections made during the visits into lasting relationships. Of the 53 former U.S. federal lawmakers who have visited Korea so far, 38 have accepted honorary ambassador positions with the institute.
The program has also connected former lawmakers with first-hand experience in U.S. politics, public administration and industry with Korean companies and experts in related fields, and helped build understanding of local policies and the industrial environment.


[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter