Amid mounting tasks such as progress on investments in the U.S. and tariff measures, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan has departed for the United States on an unscheduled trip.

Minister Kim left for the U.S. this morning (August 16).

This marks Minister Kim's visit to the U.S. in about three weeks since attending the opening ceremony of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center last month, and it is known that the schedule was urgently coordinated to discuss pending trade issues.

Minister Kim is expected to continue discussions locally on pushing forward U.S. investment projects and tariff measures related to U.S. overproduction.

South Korea and the U.S. previously agreed to lower the U.S. reciprocal tariff from 25% to 15% on the condition of $350 billion in investments in the U.S. last year.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has selected the construction of a combined-cycle gas power plant as its first U.S. investment project and has been coordinating with the U.S. side.

While the government has set a plan to select the first project within the year, the U.S. has repeatedly urged the South Korean government through diplomatic channels to swiftly implement the investment.