Donald Trump, New South Korean President, Begin Tariff Talks in First Call Since His Election [WATCH]

President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung agreed to accelerate talks on tariffs during their first phone call since Lee’s election victory earlier this week, according to a statement released Friday by Lee’s office.

President Lee, who took office after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed following impeachment over his martial law declaration, made clear that trade relations with the United States would be a top priority.

South Korea’s new president comes into power amidst tough trade negotiations with the Trump administration.

“How the trade deal unfolds will set the tone for the relationship between South Korea and the United States,” explains @AndrewIYeo.

Read more: https://t.co/K6Orrspzja pic.twitter.com/w0OoLb420d

— Brookings Foreign Policy (@BrookingsFP) June 5, 2025

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South Korea is currently party to a bilateral free trade agreement with the United States and is among the nations impacted by tariffs imposed under the Trump administration.

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“The two presidents agreed to make an effort to reach a satisfactory agreement on tariff consultations as soon as possible that both countries can be satisfied with,” Lee’s office said.

The statement added that working-level negotiations would be encouraged to “yield tangible results.”

LET’S MAKE A DEAL‼️

TRUMP and new South Korean President agree to make a tariff deal mutually beneficial to both countries‼️

Let’s git r done‼️https://t.co/3sv8zqzFQh

— e b (@Eb67735B) June 7, 2025

South Korea’s economy relies heavily on exports, and the outcome of trade negotiations with the United States could have significant implications for its key industries.

The South Korean government has been seeking to negotiate a package that would lift certain levies before a 90-day pause on Trump’s tariffs ends in July.

These efforts, however, were delayed due to the leadership transition in Seoul.

Lee has emphasized the urgency of these negotiations.

Just before the election, he said, “The most pressing matter is trade negotiations with the United States.”

His administration has since indicated it will ask for more time to finalize discussions, citing the strategic importance of the U.S.–South Korea relationship.

The call between the two leaders also touched on additional areas of concern.

President Trump has long pressed South Korea to contribute more financially toward the continued presence of more than 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in the country.

Lee did not address that point publicly, but officials from his administration have noted that alliance management with Washington remains a central pillar of their foreign policy.

During the call, Trump invited President Lee to a summit in the United States.

The White House said a meeting between the two leaders is expected to take place soon and could potentially occur on the sidelines of the upcoming G-7 summit in Canada later this month.

The two leaders also spoke about personal experiences, including the assassination attempts both survived in 2024.

President Lee was stabbed in the neck during a campaign event in January and underwent emergency surgery.

President Trump was grazed by a bullet near his ear during a July campaign rally.

According to the South Korean presidential office, both leaders acknowledged these incidents during their conversation and shared their mutual interest in golf.

Some Trump administration officials have expressed concern over Lee’s approach to China and North Korea.

Lee has taken a more conciliatory tone toward both, describing China as a major trade partner and avoiding firm statements on rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

His stance differs from that of his predecessor and has drawn scrutiny from U.S. policymakers focused on Indo-Pacific security.

At a security conference in Singapore last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed this issue more broadly, warning that some countries were seeking economic cooperation with China while relying on U.S. military protection.

He cautioned that such an approach could complicate security alliances across the region.

Despite differences in approach on regional diplomacy, both governments have signaled that trade negotiations will remain the immediate focus of bilateral engagement in the coming weeks.

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