Second-term talks between South Korea and the U.S. followed in January
“will to pass the Special Act on the U.S. and implement investment agreements”
Vance “will to communicate with non-tariff barriers”
Andy Kim also met with U.S. Senator

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok shakes hands with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the White House in Washington, D.C. on the 12th (local time). [Courtesy of the Korean Embassy in the U.S.] - Yonhap News 사진 확대

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok shakes hands with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the White House in Washington, D.C. on the 12th (local time). [Courtesy of the Korean Embassy in the U.S.] – Yonhap News

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with Vice President JD Vance, the No. 2 man in the Donald Trump administration, and proposed speeding up the implementation of the results of the Korea-U.S. negotiations, including the introduction of South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarines. With the legislation of the Special Act on Investment in the U.S., it seems to be accelerating the strengthening of relations between South Korea and the U.S.

Prime Minister Kim, who is visiting the United States, met with Vice President Vance at the White House in Washington, D.C. on the 12th (local time) and made the remarks, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. It is the first time in about a month and a half that the second-in-command of South Korea and the U.S. has met since January 23.

Prime Minister Kim said, “The Special Act on Investment in the United States passed the plenary session of the National Assembly yesterday. It shows our strong willingness to implement the investment agreement.” Vice President Vance welcomed the legal conditions for the implementation of the investment agreement through the passage of the bill and replied that the two countries should communicate closely with each other regarding investment in the U.S.

Prime Minister Kim conveyed his intention to speed up the implementation of the Korea-U.S. joint explanatory materials (Joint Fact Sheet) with the legislation of the Special Act on the U.S. The purpose is to implement agreements in the security field such as the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear power and shipbuilding as soon as possible. It also evaluated cooperation between the two countries in key minerals and introduced the Korean government’s forward-looking decision on Google’s request to send out a map. Vice President Vance also responded and said that we should continue to communicate about other non-tariff barriers.

The two sides reportedly shared that Coupang and religious issues, which Vice President Vance mentioned at the time of the talks in January, have been stably managed recently.

The meeting also seems to have discussed the Trump administration’s tariff policy. Earlier, the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced the previous day that it would launch an investigation into Article 301 of the Trade Act against 15 countries, including South Korea, and the European Union. Article 301 allows retaliatory measures such as tariffs to be taken if it is determined that there is unfair behavior against US companies in overseas markets. Analysts say that the “non-tariff barriers” mentioned by Vice President Vance will be related to the opening of the investigation.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is meeting with Senator Andy Kim at the Conrad Hotel in Washington, D.C. on the 12th (local time). [Prime Minister's Office] - Yonhap News Agency 사진 확대

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is meeting with Senator Andy Kim at the Conrad Hotel in Washington, D.C. on the 12th (local time). [Prime Minister’s Office] – Yonhap News Agency

Prime Minister Kim also met with U.S. Senator Andy Kim in Washington, D.C., and sought cooperation to pass the “Korean Partnership Act,” which calls for the establishment of a new visa quota for professional Koreans. In order to expedite investment in the U.S., it also requested the improvement of the visa system to ensure stable conditions for Korean skilled workers to stay.

Prime Minister Kim then invited local companies such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG, Hanwha and POSCO, as well as officials from the Korea International Trade Association, KOTRA and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. Prime Minister Kim said, “It is important to further advance the Korea-U.S. relationship based on our country’s international status and to create an indispensable relationship for each other,” adding, “Korean companies and public institutions in the U.S. should play a pivotal role in deepening Korea-U.S. economic cooperation with a broad perspective, and play a role as a focal point of the Korean community and a spearhead for the spread of K-culture.”