On Tuesday, Song Eon-seok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized President Lee Jae Myung and the Democratic Party for disregarding the National Assembly’s ratification process concerning President Donald Trump’s unexpected tariff increase.
During a policy meeting at the National Assembly that morning, Song stated that the Lee administration’s self-congratulatory claims about the U.S.-Korea tariff agreement clearly demonstrate how unstable this structure truly is. He added that the tariff agreement signed last year was explicitly designed to retroactively reduce tariffs from the moment the bill was submitted to the National Assembly.
He continued that however, without a clear agreement on the ratification deadline, the fragile structure has been exposed, allowing for retaliatory tariff hikes at President Trump’s discretion.
Song emphasized that its party has consistently stressed that National Assembly ratification is a priority for the U.S.-Korea tariff agreement reached last year. It was only logical to propose and pass the bill after ratification, but the administration and ruling party claimed that ratification was unnecessary.
He asserted that ultimately, the responsibility for this entire situation lies with President Lee and his administration, who have neglected the ratification process for this crucial trade agreement that requires National Assembly approval. He criticized that furthermore, since the Democratic Party proposed the special law for U.S. investment in late November last year, the administration has made no demands or requests to the National Assembly regarding this matter.
He pointed out that the recent pressures from various U.S. sectors regarding Coupang, the increased security burdens, and this latest tariff hike all contribute to growing public concern about potential issues with President Lee’s credibility in U.S. relations.
Song proposed that to address this situation, he suggests that the administration and ruling party meet promptly to discuss the matter. He also recommends that the National Assembly hold an urgent inquiry to assess the current trade situation with the U.S. immediately.