SK Chairman Chey Tae-won and Kim Hee-young Appear Together at Korea Society Gala in New York
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won attended the Korea Society 2026 Annual Gala in New York City on September 28, 2026, accompanied by T&C Foundation Director Kim Hee-young. Held at Cipriani South Street in Manhattan, the high-profile diplomatic and economic networking event marked their second public international appearance together following a 2023 gala in Paris, signaling an expanding public role for Kim in the SK Group leader’s global engagements.
New York Gala Brings Together South Korean Corporate Leadership and U.S. Diplomacy
The annual gala served as a major networking forum for South Korean business leaders and American dignitaries, centering heavily on the presentation of the James A. Van Fleet Award to NVIDIA Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to the promotion of U.S.-Korea relations. Chairman Chey joined Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and other prominent executives in celebrating Huang’s recognition.
SK Group participated in the high-level event as a top-tier corporate sponsor. The gathering carried substantial economic and strategic weight, contrasting with previous cultural and artistic outings shared by the SK chief and the T&C Foundation director. Chey previously received the Van Fleet Award in 2017, following in the footsteps of his late father, SK founder Chey 최종현, making them a second-generation recipient family.
Expanding Public Presence on the Global Stage
Dressed in a tuxedo, Chairman Chey and Director Kim, who wore a traditional Korean hanbok featuring an ivory jeogori and soft yellow skirt with light green ties, sat side by side at the main dining table to greet attendees. Observers note that the appearance moves beyond private circles into the formal duties of an executive spouse, which remain standard practice during international business diplomacy and cross-border networking events.
Broadening Cultural Diplomacy and Institutional Background
Outside of corporate diplomatic gatherings, Director Kim maintains an active presence in the arts sector. In July 2024, she transitioned from her role as chair of the T&C Foundation to serve as a board member, passing leadership to Na Seok-kwon, while focusing her curatorial efforts on the Podo Museum in Jeju, operated by SK subsidiary Hwichan. The T&C Foundation also sponsors support programs for female artists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Kim curated the Podo Museum exhibition titled “Greetings from Shaking Things,” which runs from September 2 to October 31. The exhibition features works by female artists including Mona Hatoum, Choi Sung-im, and Kim Yoon-su. Chairman Chey publicly disclosed in 2015 that he and Kim share a child.
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