Lee Myung-gu, New Commissioner of Korea Customs Service, Declares 'Response to US Customs Policy' as Top Priority

[Financial News] The Korea Customs Service has declared 'response to US customs policy' as its top priority and is strengthening its comprehensive response system.
 The Korea Customs Service announced on the 18th that Commissioner Lee Myung-gu held a review meeting on the activities of the 'Special Response Headquarters for US Customs Policy Response and Domestic Industry Protection (Midabon)' for May and June as his first move after taking office on the 17th.
 Following the Midabon review meeting, Commissioner Lee will visit the Seo Chang Plant of Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd. in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, a company directly affected by US tariffs on automobile and parts categories, to listen to on-site opinions and suggestions.
 According to the Korea Customs Service, Commissioner Lee's actions reflect his determination to prioritize policy on Midabon activities that fully respond to US customs policy to protect the export industry and mobilize all administrative capabilities. 
 Previously, Commissioner Lee announced immediately after taking office that the head of Midabon would be promoted from deputy to commissioner to strengthen the organization-wide response system and to fully address trade uncertainties together with import and export companies.
 Since its launch at the end of March, the Korea Customs Service's 'Special Response Headquarters for US Customs Policy Response and Domestic Industry Protection (Midabon)' has held a 'Director-General Level Cooperation Meeting' between the CBP regional director and the Director-General of International Customs Cooperation of the Korea Customs Service at the CBP headquarters in Washington, DC, USA, in May to strengthen practical cooperation between customs authorities.  In addition, Korean customs officers dispatched to various countries have been explaining trade and customs policy trends of the host countries, including the US, to domestic companies and providing one-on-one consultations through the 'Overseas Customs System Briefing' held early.
 Alongside this, Midabon conducted a 'planned crackdown on foreign steel origin labeling violations' with the Korea Iron & Steel Association and the Chamber of Commerce from May 12 to June 30, uncovering violations worth a total of 16.5 billion won. It also utilized big data analysis to identify and further analyze and inspect companies with a high risk of origin manipulation and circumvention exports in steel and aluminum categories.
 Additionally, Midabon held a cooperation meeting with the CBP regional director in Seoul last month to introduce the role and crackdown cases of the Korea Customs Service in blocking circumvention exports and illegal strategic goods exports, and discussed ways to share information, thereby strengthening cooperation in the investigation field. Earlier in May, it participated in the 'Korea-US-Japan Innovation Technology Protection Network (DTPN) Meeting' to expand international cooperation in exchanging information and intelligence on strategic goods leakage and circumvention exports.
 Commissioner Lee stated, “Responding to US customs policy is the most important task that the Korea Customs Service must address at this time,” adding, “Even in an uncertain trade environment, we will mobilize all means with one heart to ensure that our industry can maintain its competitiveness without wavering.”

kwj5797@fnnews.com Kim Won-jun Reporter