U.S. trade officials from the Korean government are actively engaging in diplomatic efforts during their visit to America. They are launching a full-scale persuasion campaign, meeting with a wide range of contacts, including Trump administration officials, members of Congress, and industry representatives.
Yeo Han Koo, the head of the Office of International Trade and Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, arrived in Washington, D.C. on Friday. He is scheduled to meet with Trump administration officials, members of Congress, and U.S. industry representatives on Saturday.
Since his arrival, Yeo has been actively engaging with various U.S. officials. He is expected to continue these meetings even on Sunday.
Previously, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung Kwan met with key figures from the Trump administration, including Commerce Secretary Howard Rutnik and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, before returning to Korea.
Yeo aims to meet with a broader range of contacts during this trip than during Minister Kim’s visit.
The visits by Minister Kim and Yeo are in response to President Trump’s concerns about delays in passing South Korea’s special investment law for the U.S., which he raised on January 26. The U.S. has threatened to increase tariffs on South Korean products, including automobiles, timber, and pharmaceuticals, from the current 15% to 25%.
Speaking to reporters at Incheon Airport on Saturday, Minister Kim said the special investment law for the United States had been submitted to the National Assembly last November, but that the Assembly’s schedule prevented discussions in December because of budget deliberations and in January because of hearings for ministerial candidates. He added that the government planned to hold a video conference with the U.S. side to discuss the matter further.
Kim emphasized that the South Korean government had clearly stated it had no intention of delaying or avoiding the investment’s implementation and expressed the view that any unnecessary misunderstandings had been resolved.
Yeo’s schedule in the U.S. will extend into early February.
During his stay, he plans to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss tariff issues and other trade matters between South Korea and the U.S.
On Friday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Yeo said that, as President Trump’s recent comments suggested, the current focus was on South Korea’s investments in the U.S. and legislative progress in Congress, and added that it was clear the U.S. ultimately wanted to maintain strong trade relations with Korea.
He also said that, moving forward, he needed to meet with various stakeholders, including government officials and members of Congress, to understand the U.S. perspective fully.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Jo Hyun will visit the U.S. on February 4 to attend a Ministerial Meeting on Critical Minerals hosted by the U.S. State Department. The government is reportedly coordinating a brief meeting between Minister Jo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during this visit.