hankyoreh

US President Donald Trump takes questions from the press outside the White House on July 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Yonhap)

Wi Sung-lac, national security adviser to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, left for the US on Sunday. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and other key diplomats and trade representatives will head to the US for trade negotiations this week. 

With around 10 days left until the grace period for President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs ends, Wi and other Korean representatives have set a goal of meeting with key insiders within the administration in Washington to pursue the interests of the Korean government to the best of their ability. 

In a press briefing on Sunday, Woo Sang-ho, the senior presidential secretary for political affairs, announced that Wi had left for the US to conduct negotiations with US authorities.

“Wi will visit the US whenever he deems necessary throughout the negotiation process,” Woo added. 

On the eve of his departure, Wi said during a phone call with the Hankyoreh, “My goal is to lower [the tariffs] a few percentage points. If there is anything more to be gained, then we will pursue that as well.” 

Cho, who also spoke with the Hankyoreh on the phone, said that he was “in the process of setting up a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio” as he was scheduled to visit the US this week. 

“If you look, there are a lot of things that the US wants from us and a lot of things that would be mutually beneficial,” Cho added. 

“That [the issue of defense spending] is going to take some time. It will be resolved in a single swoop [at the last minute],” Cho added, indicating that he is optimistic about reaching a deal before the Aug. 1 deadline. 

Koo Yun-cheol, the minister of economy and finance, and Kim Jung-kwan, the minister of trade, industry and energy, are also expected to visit the US as soon as Thursday. 

Wi and company are attempting to schedule meetings with senior US officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. A “2+2” meeting involving each country’s respective trade and finance ministers has not been held since April. 

The Lee administration is pursuing a negotiation in the name of a South Korea-US “manufacturing renaissance.” Compared to the UK, Vietnam, and Indonesia, South Korea has a lot to leverage in talks, such as its technological prowess in shipbuilding, semiconductors, batteries, energy, and AI — something Wi and his colleagues are likely to try to take advantage of. 

However, when it comes to US demands for further opening up South Korea’s agricultural market, the administration is exercising caution. Yeo Han-koo, the country’s chief trade negotiator, said that a “strategic determination” will need to be made on the opening of South Korea’s market to US agriculture and livestock imports.

His comments earned him severe criticism from members of the Democratic Party at the National Assembly on Friday. 

By Seo Young-ji, staff reporter; Shin Hyeong-cheol, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]