Han Media: Tariff Pressure Undermines South Korea-US Trust, Prepare for the Worst

Summary: Lee Jae-myung said "If we accept US demands, we might be impeached"

¬ South Korea and the US should come up with a reasonable plan that protects both countries' national interests

With the Trump administration's second term government openly pressuring its allies, South Korea-US relations are facing significant turbulence. President Lee Jae-myung introduced the difficulties encountered during the first South Korea-US summit meeting on tariff negotiations when he gave an interview to the American magazine Time on the 18th, saying, "If I had fully accepted the harsh conditions of the US at that time, I might have been impeached domestically." Although the term "impeachment" is somewhat exaggerated, it also reveals the real pressure brought by the US's excessive demands on South Korea. South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-ah recently also expressed dissatisfaction in the National Assembly, stating, "I have truly felt that the US is no longer the same as before, which cooperated with many allies and friendly countries," which was a rare expression of discontent.

Concerns are also being voiced within the United States. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently pointed out in a report that the incident involving a battery factory in Georgia has had a negative impact on South Korea-US relations. The report listed challenges posed to bilateral relations by policies such as high US tariffs, enhanced "strategic flexibility," and possible exclusion of South Korea in North Korea policy.

The problem lies in the conflict between the US's restrictive immigration policies and its strategy of expanding foreign investment within the country. Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia, where the incident of detained Koreans occurred, pointed out, "The US immigration policy conflicts with the investment policy aimed at revitalizing manufacturing and creating jobs," and called for a comprehensive review of the visa system. However, the new bill for Korean professionals' employment visas (E-4) has been stalled in the US Congress. Moreover, the US has not provided a clear solution to the legal obstacles hindering South Korea-US cooperation in the shipbuilding industry, causing South Korea's plan to invest 150 billion USD through the so-called "MASGA project" to be delayed due to U.S. shipbuilding regulations, making it difficult to accelerate.

In the Time interview, President Lee Jae-myung stated that he has instructed the negotiation team to find a reasonable alternative. Prime Minister Kim Moon-sik said in the National Assembly, "The basic strategy for negotiations with the US is not to rush," mentioning the possibility of prolonged negotiations. In this situation, President Trump threatened to impose high tariffs on South Korea's main export product, semiconductors, after cars. Given the current situation, many believe that South Korea should prepare for the worst, and during the long-term negotiations, both sides may impose 25% tariffs on each other for a considerable period of time.

Pressuring South Korea to invest an amount equivalent to 80% of its foreign exchange reserves in the US through tariffs is a unilateralist approach that is pushing the South Korea-US alliance to the test bench. There are also concerns within the US political circles about the future of the South Korea-US alliance after Trump's presidential term ends in three years and four months. The two countries should look beyond the "today" of the South Korea-US alliance and focus on the "tomorrow," seeking a reasonable compromise. South Korea urgently needs to demonstrate strategic wisdom, able to calmly recognize reality and safeguard national interests.

Source: JoongAng Daily

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843858069728256/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author."