Seoul: Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday urged the government, the National Assembly, and the private sector to work together in response to the shifting international landscape influenced by the "America First" policy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi emphasized during a Cabinet meeting that the current international order is harsh, with no permanent allies or enemies. He stressed that unity is essential for South Korea's survival and prosperity. His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to halt military assistance to Ukraine following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the announcement of a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico as part of "reciprocal" tariff measures.
Choi highlighted the necessity of not relying solely on the goodwill of major powers and allies to safeguard South Korea's national security, industries, or technologies. He urged collaboration among the government, the National Assembly, and the private sector to effectively address the ongoing trade war resulting from U.S. tariff actions.
Further, Choi called for bipartisan cooperation on pressing issues such as pension reform and legislation to exempt semiconductor workers from the country's 52-hour workweek system. He also noted a positive development with the agreement between Seoul and Washington to establish a working-level consultative body to discuss tariff measures and enhance bilateral cooperation in industries like shipbuilding.
Choi mentioned his recent video conference with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and a meeting between Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington, underscoring the ongoing dialogue between the two nations.