Rep. Eonju Lee: "Turning the Trump 2.0 Era Crisis into Opportunity"

Seeking Korea-US Alliance and Trade Strategies in the Trump 2.0 Era
Park Jeong, Budget Committee Chair, "Yoon's Martial Law Lowers Economic Trust"

Lee Eon-ju, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized on the 18th, "We must not miss the golden time to prepare for the Trump 2.0 era," adding, "Although high waves are approaching, we must turn this crisis into an opportunity."

President-elect Donald Trump of the United States. Yonhap News

On the same day, Lee hosted the "Discussion on Strategies for the Korea-US Alliance and Trade in the Trump 2.0 Era" at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, 2nd Small Conference Room, stating, "Trump is characterized by viewing everything as a transactional relationship, so we need to think more about what we can give and take with Trump."

The discussion was organized to analyze the impact of President Trump's second term on South Korea's diplomacy, military security, trade, and industrial cooperation, and to explore response strategies. It was co-hosted by Lee and fellow party members Kim Byung-joo and Wi Sung-rak.

Wi, who served as the Special Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia, stressed, "The December 3 incident damaged the trust in the Korea-US alliance and shook the alliance based on the values of liberal democracy," adding, "Under the current acting authority system, the government and the National Assembly must cooperate across party lines to rebuild the broken diplomacy."

Lee Eon-ju, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is hosting the "Discussion on Seeking Strategies for the Korea-US Alliance and Trade in the Trump 2.0 Era" at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 18th. Photo by Lee's office

Park Jung, Chair of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, who attended as a guest, said, "The December 3 martial law incident destroyed the economic credibility built over 30 years since the IMF crisis," and added, "We need to find ways to instill the perception that Korea is a reliable and investable market."

Professor Jeon Jae-sung, who presented at the event, summarized the Trump administration's China strategy as 'Peace Through Strength' and 'America First.'

Professor Jeon emphasized, "Korea needs to develop a macro and long-term outlook and strategy on the international order," and added, "While maintaining cooperation with the United States, Korea should attempt to rebuild the liberal order through solidarity with European and Asian democracies, contribute to the provision of international public goods, and promote the development of frameworks for international cooperation."

Dr. Cho Cheol from the Industrial Research Institute of the Growth Engine Industry Research Headquarters explained, "In the Trump 2.0 era, our industrial sector must actively respond and cooperate simultaneously," adding, "Regarding the semiconductor industry, Samsung Electronics' international political risk is lower compared to China's SMIC and Taiwan's TSMC, but it is still disadvantaged in securing advanced process foundry orders, so early completion and stabilization of local facilities and orders from US-based customers are urgent."

He also added, "Efforts should be made to ensure that domestic companies can benefit from the expansion of the US fabless tax credit (25%)."