Kim Jung-kwan visits the U.S. to discuss speeding up the Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation center and investment talks

[Financial News]  
Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan visited Washington, D.C., to discuss strategic investment projects in the United States and ways to strengthen cooperation in shipbuilding and energy. In particular, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Initiative, marking a full-scale push for shipbuilding cooperation.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources on the 10th, Kim visited Washington, D.C., from the 6th to the 9th local time and discussed cooperation in industry and trade with key U.S. officials.
In a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Kim explained Korea's follow-up legislation and implementation framework after the passage of the Special Act on U.S. Investment. The two sides also discussed the direction of specific strategic investment projects in the United States, based on project ideas they had already discussed, focusing on areas of mutual interest such as shipbuilding and energy.
In particular, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and the U.S. Department of Commerce signed an MOU on the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Initiative during the meeting. Through this agreement, the two countries will establish the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center and promote corporate cooperation projects such as joint research and development (R&D) and direct investment, while also strengthening cooperation in workforce training and information sharing.
Kim also met with Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and requested government-level support to ensure the smooth progress of Korea's MASGA Project. He then met with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to review progress in energy cooperation, including nuclear power, and discuss ways to expand future cooperation.
He also held a video meeting with Bill Hagerty, a Tennessee U.S. senator widely regarded as one of the most pro-Korea members of Congress, to discuss nuclear cooperation and digital issues, continuing his outreach efforts in the United States.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said, "We will continue close consultations with the United States on strategic investment projects, while strengthening Korea-U.S. industrial and energy cooperation and managing major trade issues in a stable manner."
Meanwhile, Kim told reporters during his U.S. visit that, regarding the first investment project in the United States under the Korea-U.S. trade agreement, "As the Special Act on U.S. Investment will take effect after June, detailed discussions will be possible after that."
aber@fnnews.com Park Ji-young Reporter