The chairman of Base Group, Kim Sung-zip, paid 3 billion won to the Trump Organization. The company explained that this amount was a fee for a golf course project currently underway with the Trump family. Base Group has collaborated with the Trump family in various fields such as wine and golf course businesses. However, Korea Aluminum, an affiliate of Base Group, is under investigation by the US Department of Commerce for alleged circumvention of Chinese aluminum exports, raising concerns about whether this payment is related to the trade dispute. Base Group insists that the golf course project and the trade dispute are separate issues and emphasizes that it was a legitimate business transaction.
