US threat of tariffs triggers dissatisfaction in South Korea

Han Jeong ae, Speaker of the Policy Committee of the ruling Democratic Party of South Korea, recently held a press conference to respond to the United States' plan to unilaterally increase tariffs on South Korean goods imported to the United States, expressing regret for the US's actions that violated the consensus between the two sides. On January 31st, South Korean Minister of Industry and Trade, Kim Jong eun, concluded his visit to the United States for tariff negotiations and stated that the core differences between the two sides have not yet been resolved, and further negotiations will continue through video conferences.

On January 26th, US President Trump released a statement on social media, announcing that tariffs on South Korean goods such as cars, wood, and medicine will be raised from 15% to 25%, citing the South Korean Congress' failure to approve the US South Korea trade agreement. According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean Presidential Office held a meeting on the current status of trade with the United States on the morning of January 27th to discuss countermeasures and review the progress of the Special Act on Investment in the United States. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo jung stated in a written briefing that the South Korean government will carefully assess the background and intentions of the US measures.

In July 2025, the United States and South Korea reached a trade agreement framework. According to the agreement disclosed by the US, the South Korean side is required to fulfill three core obligations: applying a 15% tariff on products exported to the US (US products exported to South Korea are exempt from taxes), investing $350 billion in the US and purchasing $100 billion in energy products, and ensuring the implementation of the agreement through domestic legislation. The framework of the trade agreement has sparked many doubts and opposition within South Korea, and there are also differences between the two sides on specific implementation plans. In order to promote the implementation of the agreement, the ruling party of South Korea submitted the "Special Investment Act for the United States" to the National Assembly in November last year; In December last year, the US lowered the tariffs on South Korean cars imported to the US to 15% based on the agreement framework. But just over a month later, the United States unilaterally raised tariffs on the grounds that the bill had not been enacted, which was also the main reason for South Korea's dissatisfaction.

The unilateral tax increase measures of the United States have attracted widespread attention and criticism from South Korean media. The Han Ethnic Daily published an editorial pointing out that the deadline for the passage of the Special Investment Act in the United States was not clearly stated in the South Korea US agreement. The bill was submitted to the National Assembly for only over two months, and the South Korean National Assembly has been advancing according to normal procedures without publicly expressing opposition. The unilateral abandonment of the agreement by the US without prior communication with the South Korean side is difficult to understand at the diplomatic level. Its unilateralism and arbitrary breach of the agreement have received widespread attention from the international community.

Kim Ting suk, Chief Researcher at the Sejong Institute in South Korea, stated that the US government uses tariffs as a tool to pressure allies to increase investment in the US. This practice of using pressure instead of negotiation will have an impact on the foundation of the existing international order. Professor Kim Hee joo from Gwangyun University in South Korea stated that in the face of unreasonable demands from the United States, the South Korean side should firmly stand firm and effectively safeguard its legitimate rights, interests, and dignity.