South Korea Acting President Plans Meeting with Heads of 4 Major Groups Next Week to Discuss US Tariff Response

Meeting Scheduled After Trump's Reciprocal Tariff Announcement
Discussion on Tariff Countermeasures and Management Challenges

Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo plans to hold his first meeting with the heads of the four major domestic conglomerates (Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, LG) in early next month. Discussions are expected to focus on the U.S. reciprocal tariff measures and management difficulties.

Yonhap News

A spokesperson from the Prime Minister's Office said in a phone interview on the 28th, "The government plans to hold an economic security strategy task force (TF) meeting next week, where the public and private sectors will join forces to address trade issues," adding, "Discussions are underway to have various companies, organizations, and research institutes, including the four major groups, participate."

The meeting is expected to be attended by Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK; Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor; and Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG.

Earlier, on the 25th, Acting President Han held a meeting of trade-related ministers at the Government Seoul Office and decided to elevate the 'Foreign Economic Issues Meeting,' previously chaired by Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, to an 'Economic Security Strategy TF' directly chaired by Han.

The TF will be jointly operated by the government and major companies to ensure close communication. The timing of the meeting between Acting President Han and the heads of the four major groups is expected to be after the announcement of reciprocal tariff policies by U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for the 2nd of next month.

On the 26th (local time), U.S. President Trump officially announced imposing a 25% tariff on foreign automobiles imported into the U.S., following tariffs on steel and aluminum, escalating the 'tariff war' against major countries including Korea.

Acting President Han is expected to discuss countermeasures against the U.S. reciprocal tariffs with the heads of the four major groups and also listen to their management difficulties. The day before, Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with leaders of six economic organizations, met Acting President Han at the Prime Minister's official residence in Seoul to request reconsideration of the exercise of the veto right on the amendment to the Commercial Act.

This will be the first official meeting between Acting President Han and the heads of the four major groups since he assumed the role of Acting President.