Koo Yun-cheol, Kim Yong-beom, and Kim Jung-kwan Visit the U.S. in Succession: Will Korea–United States Tariff Negotiations Reach a Turning Point?

[Financial News]
[Financial News] Following Koo Yun-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Kim Yong-beom, Chief Policy Officer at the Office of the President of South Korea, and Kim Jung-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, will also head to Washington, D.C. for Korea-U.S. Trade Consultations. Attention is focused on whether the long-stalled Korea–United States Tariff Negotiations will reach a new turning point.
Koo Yun-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, departed for the United States on the morning of the 15th to attend the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB), as well as the G20 Finance Ministers' Meeting.
Kim Yong-beom, Chief Policy Officer at the Office of the President of South Korea, and Kim Jung-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, are scheduled to depart on the 16th. Yeo Han-koo, Deputy Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is already in the U.S. preparing for follow-up discussions.
At Incheon International Airport, Koo Yun-cheol told reporters, "I expect to meet Scott Bessent, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, several times and will thoroughly explain Korea's position."
He also mentioned during the Parliamentary Inspection of the Administration by the Strategy and Finance Committee on the 13th, "I proposed a meeting with Secretary Bessent on the 15th (local time), but have not yet received a confirmation."
The main focus of this U.S. visit is whether the $350 billion investment plan for the United States, a key issue in the tariff negotiations, will be further detailed.
Kim Jung-kwan is reportedly set to meet Howard William Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, to explain Korea's position regarding the investment package. Meanwhile, Kim Yong-beom is expected to coordinate the results of economic and trade talks between the two countries and exchange views with officials from The White House.
On the 13th, the Office of the President of South Korea announced to the press, "Our side presented a revised financial package in September, and there has been some response from the U.S. side. However, as negotiations are ongoing, it is difficult to disclose specific details."
The U.S. side has reportedly demanded that the previously agreed $350 billion investment be made in the form of a 'cash investment.' In response, the Korean government has raised concerns about foreign exchange market instability and the possibility of a crisis, and has counter-proposed an unlimited Korea-US currency swap agreement.

spring@fnnews.com Lee Bo-mi Reporter