Seoul: President Yoon Suk Yeol held a phone call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday to congratulate him on his “landslide victory,” and they agreed to hold an in-person meeting at an early date, according to Yoon’s office. Yoon expressed hope for continued collaboration with the United States under Trump’s leadership, highlighting the “Make America Great Again” slogan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the call, which lasted about 12 minutes, included discussions on security, the economy, and global issues. Both leaders agreed to set a date and location soon for an in-person meeting. Trump expressed his gratitude and emphasized the importance of maintaining the cooperative relationship between South Korea and the U.S.
During the call, Yoon noted that Trump’s first term laid the foundation for a robust trilateral relationship among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. He expressed a desire to further develop the U.S.-South Korea alliance to cover all areas of security and economy. The leaders als
o addressed North Korea’s recent nuclear developments and missile launches, along with the situation in Ukraine, expressing concern over these security issues.
Trump mentioned an interest in collaborating with South Korea in the shipbuilding industry, particularly in naval shipbuilding, exports, repairs, and maintenance. Both leaders agreed that an in-person meeting would be crucial for further discussions on these matters, and they plan to coordinate a meeting date and location soon.
Experts suggest that a second Trump administration could bring shifts to the U.S.-South Korea alliance, potentially increasing pressure on Seoul to bear a larger share of the alliance’s financial burden. Additionally, Trump’s approach to North Korea’s denuclearization and Russia’s war in Ukraine will be key areas of focus.
Yoon, during a press conference, expressed his intent to minimize the economic impact of a second Trump administration’s policies, especially trade tariffs, on the South Korean economy. He assured reporters
that preparations for risk hedging are already underway to protect the country’s economic interests.
Industry watchers anticipate that Trump’s administration may pursue strong protectionist trade policies. Korean businesses are particularly concerned about the potential reduction or elimination of subsidies on chips, electric vehicles, and clean energy, which were established under the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.