Andeokgeun Meets US Government and Congressional Officials to "Dispel Concerns About Korea"

Minister Ahn Meets with Key U.S. Officials in Georgia and Washington D.C.
Emphasizes Stable Korea-U.S. Economic Cooperation Amid Political Changes

Ahead of the inauguration of the second Trump administration, Ahn Deok-geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, who visited the United States on the 9th (local time), stated, "Amid many concerns about Korea's political situation, I explained to key U.S. officials that our government is managing the economy and industry stably."

Minister Ahn visited Georgia and Washington D.C. in the United States from the 6th to the 9th (U.S. local time), meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Energy, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Governor and state legislators of Georgia, members of the U.S. Congress, major think tanks, and stakeholders. He also held meetings with companies operating in Georgia. On the 9th, he held a press briefing in Washington to explain the outcomes of this visit.

Anduk Geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (first from the left), attended the "Meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Energy" held on the 8th (local time) at the U.S. Department of Energy conference room in Washington D.C. The meeting was attended by Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy, and officials from both the Korean and U.S. governments to discuss energy cooperation measures between the two countries. Provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Regarding the achievements of this visit, Minister Ahn said, "This visit served as an opportunity to actively inform the U.S. federal and state governments and Congress about the activities of Korean investment companies in the U.S. and to confirm that the Korea-U.S. relationship remains strong regardless of the changing political environment in both countries. We will closely monitor policies announced by the new U.S. administration and strengthen Korea-U.S. cooperation to ensure that Korean companies’ investments and business activities in the U.S. remain stable amid the changing external environment."

During this visit, Minister Ahn met with members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversee trade and tax matters, and emphasized that supply chain linkage between Korea and the U.S. has been enhanced based on Korean companies’ investments in the U.S. He urged continuous creation of a favorable environment for Korean companies.

He also met with Representative Todd Young, who co-sponsored the SHIPS for America Act, a bill aimed at strengthening the U.S. shipbuilding industry. They agreed to maintain ongoing communication and cooperation in the legislative and policy-making processes related to the rebuilding of the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Additionally, during meetings with legislators from Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama?regions with concentrated Korean investment in the U.S.?he requested active support and attention to ensure the stable and smooth implementation of Korean companies’ investment projects.

Minister Ahn also held separate meetings with Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy, and Katherine Tai, USTR Representative. In these meetings, he evaluated the achievements derived from the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two governments and emphasized the necessity of continued cooperation in the industrial, energy, and trade sectors under the new U.S. administration.

He also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on nuclear power export and cooperation between Korean and U.S. government agencies. This formal signing took place two months after the preliminary signing of the MOU in November last year. The MOU was concluded amid ongoing efforts to resolve intellectual property (IP) disputes between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Westinghouse regarding the Czech nuclear power export project, and it is expected to have a positive impact on securing the Czech nuclear power contract.