▲ Ruling and opposition lawmakers visiting the United States hold a press conference at a restaurant near Washington, D.C., on the 23rd (local time). From left are lawmakers Bae Hyun-jin, Cha Ji-ho, Cho Jeong-hun, and Shin Jeong-hoon. (Note: People in the photo match the order provided in Korean, though transliterations follow standard naming rules.)
A cross-party delegation of South Korean lawmakers said on the 23rd (local time) that they met with officials from the U.S. Trump administration and Congress to urge that new U.S. tariffs under Section 301 should not exceed 15%.
Lawmakers Shin Jeong-hoon and Cha Ji-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with Bae Jun-young and Cho Jeong-hun of the People Power Party, who are currently visiting the U.S., held a press briefing with a group of South Korean correspondents at a restaurant near Washington, D.C., to share the results of their trip.
The delegation stated that their visit included meetings with U.S. Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Steve Daines (R-MT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Todd Young (R-IN), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), as well as Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Dave Min (D-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Mark Alford (R-MO), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), and Bob Onder (R-KS).
They also met with David Wilhjelm, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Japan, Korea, and Mongolia at the U.S. Department of State.
Yeo Han-koo, Minister for Trade, reportedly sat in on some of the meetings to explain the South Korean government's position.
Lawmaker Bae said, "A 12.5% tariff was imposed on South Korea today. We conveyed our position that since we are investing 350 billion dollars and have worked to lower the initial 25% tariff down to 15%, the promise that there would be no additional tariff burdens must be kept."
Lawmaker Cho described the atmosphere, saying, "Our red line for tariffs is 15%, and if it slips any further, it becomes a major red flag. We delivered this message, and the U.S. side kept their comments brief, saying, 'Let's see.'"
The Trump administration imposed a 12.5% tariff on South Korea on this day based on the results of a Section 301 investigation into "forced labor."
This is intended to replace the 10% "global tariff" imposed on all trading partners worldwide under Section 122 immediately following the Supreme Court's ruling in February invalidating mutual tariffs.
The Trump administration is also expected to announce additional tariff measures resulting from a Section 301 investigation concerning "overcapacity."
Last year, South Korea secured a reduction of tariffs from 25% to 15% through a trade agreement with the U.S. that included 350 billion dollars in investments into the United States.
Concerns have been raised that if the sum of the forced labor tariff and the anticipated overcapacity tariff exceeds 15%, it would leave South Korea in a worse position than the existing trade agreement.
During their trip, the delegation also exchanged views with the U.S. side on bilateral investment cooperation and requested a swift resolution to visa issues.
Regarding the request to improve visa issues, Lawmaker Bae stated, "The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State expressed a strong commitment to actively resolving the matter."
Lawmaker Cha noted, "U.S. investments must be approached with a multi-decadal cycle in mind," adding that investment cooperation should take place in sectors where both countries can generate synergy, such as energy or artificial intelligence (AI).
Lawmaker Bae emphasized that in selecting investment areas, "there must be a consensus that it benefits both nations."
Some U.S. lawmakers reportedly requested South Korean investments in their respective districts.
Senators and Representatives from Missouri showed a particularly proactive stance by inviting the visiting lawmakers to a dinner.
The delegation also shared insights into the atmosphere within the U.S. Congress regarding Coupang.
Lawmaker Cho said, "One lawmaker even asked, 'Is the South Korean government's response to Coupang retaliation for the Georgia incident?' Whether it is the effect of lobbying or not, Coupang certainly seems to be a major stumbling block in South Korea-U.S. relations."
This indicates that some U.S. lawmakers are linking the South Korean government's actions regarding Coupang to last year's detention of South Korean workers in Georgia by the Trump administration.
However, Lawmaker Shin remarked regarding this comment, "It was an accidental remark, but it seems there are some leaps in the lawmakers' perceptions." Lawmaker Cha added, "It appears that much of the information Coupang is conveying to Congress is biased, and their views seem distorted from exposure to limited information within a limited time."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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