Behind the Scenes of the U.S.-Korea Tariff Negotiations
A video released by the presidential office on the 14th showcased the intense efforts of key figures involved in the finalization of U.S. tariff negotiations with South Korea. The footage, shared through President Lee Jae-myung’s YouTube channel, highlighted the work of Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Policy Director Kim Yong-beom, and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac. These three individuals were referred to as the “three directors” within and outside the presidential office.
The video was titled “Chemistry Explosion: Presidential Office 3 Directors,” reflecting the high-pressure environment they faced as they worked to resolve the ongoing tariff discussions before and after the Korea-U.S. summit held on the 29th of last month.
Stressful Negotiations and Unexpected Demands
In the video, the three directors discussed the challenging situation during the unresolved tariff negotiations. Director Kim described the agreement sent by the U.S. side after the summit at the White House in August, saying, “I don’t know whether to say I was shocked…” This indicated that the demands made by the U.S. were unexpectedly high. Earlier, the presidential office had stated that while some agreements were reached in trade and security during the August summit, the U.S. side made additional unexpected demands, which extended the follow-up negotiations.
A Historical Comparison
Director Kim expressed his feelings about the situation by referencing the “Eulsa Year.” This appears to draw a comparison between the level of U.S. demands and the 1905 Eulsa Treaty, a historical event that marked a significant loss of sovereignty for Korea. He added that as of the Korea-U.S. summit held on the occasion of APEC on the 29th of last month, the tariff negotiations remained unresolved. Kim described the situation as “literally the absolute worst,” noting that the U.S. president was coming, but since their positions didn’t narrow, the U.S. side became extremely angry, and this sentiment was relayed back to them.
Director Kang shared his perspective, stating, “The policy director or national security director mainly persuades based on progress, and I was probably the most stubborn. Of course, the president was even more stubborn.”
A Last-Minute Resolution
Despite the challenges, the tariff negotiations were ultimately finalized just before the summit between President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. Director Kang reflected on the resolution, saying, “After it ended, there was a sense of tension suddenly lifting.”
Director Wi commented on the positive outcome, stating, “I think it turned out well in the end.” He attributed the success to the president’s excellent handling of the situation and the efforts of the remaining staff, who gathered wisdom and devised effective responses. Wi also noted that the negotiations were concluded at the last moment, as both sides showed consideration for each other.