Navigating South Korea’s Trade and Industrial Challenges in the Trump Era
By Yun Kyung Kim
Assistant Professor, Incheon National University
►The Trump administration's aggressive trade policies, including tariffs and the renegotiation of the KORUS FTA, significantly disrupted South Korea's key industries, necessitating a whole-of-government approach to address trade and industrial challenges.
►South Korean companies, while responding to U.S. policies like the CHIPS Act and IRA under the Biden administration, now face renewed uncertainties under Trump's potential second term, threatening long-term investments and R&D in advanced technologies.
►To navigate evolving trade dynamics and sustain global competitiveness, South Korea must strengthen industrial policies, enhance public-private partnerships, and secure strategic technological advantages while balancing public support and international relations.
