Professor, Kyung Hee University
●Trump’s “America First” vision, repackaged through the MAGA (Make America Great Again) doctrine, in essence is not isolationism. It’s industrial nationalism. The high-tariff threats, reciprocal trade policies, and accusations of allied freeloading are not ends in themselves. They are tactics—political theater meant to provoke shifts in global manufacturing, especially away from China and toward U.S. soil.
●This matters enormously for South Korea, a top-tier ally, key trading partner, and frontline state in the U.S.-China rivalry. Navigating this new era requires clear thinking, strategic engagement, and, above all, an unwavering focus on Korean national interest.
●Korea can either become a target of this pressure—or a partner in shaping its future.
