[Reporter’s Notebook] The Time for Negotiation Has Come

Unprecedented rapid economic growth, a high level of democracy, and cultural arts represented by ‘K’. Korea’s development, which has elevated its status through soft power, has been a source of envy for foreigners and pride for Koreans. Diplomats carry that pride with their heads held high.

For those South Korean diplomats, last winter felt particularly cold. Due to emergency martial law and successive impeachments, the ‘Presidency’ changed three times in just four months (Yoon Seok-yeol → Han Duck-soo → Choi Sang-mok → Han Duck-soo). Each time, they had to inform the foreign diplomatic corps in Korea and repeatedly explain that the government was functioning without problems.

While South Korea was going through this chaotic period, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the President of the United States. Compared to Season 1, Season 2 Trump appeared rougher and more impatient. The awakened ‘Advancing Trump’ seemed to have no allies or enemies. Facing this emergency, countries rushed to line up at the White House. South Korea, with its presidency suspended, was the only exception. During the time when the South Korea-US summit should have been busiest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could only pace anxiously. Should they console themselves that it was fortunate that summit diplomacy was halted?

Trump imposed tariffs starting with neighboring Canada and Mexico, and pressured long-time allies in Europe over defense costs. Trump, who threatened allies by baring his teeth, suddenly aligned closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he was at war. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba, who reportedly won Trump’s favor with a golden samurai helmet gift, recently showed a grim expression over tariff issues.

South Korea has yet to have a phone call with Trump, but it does not seem to have suffered much loss. However, from the perspective of companies whose survival is at stake, waiting and watching is a luxury and no different from a self-deprecating excuse. Companies took the initiative to overcome the crisis. Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, stood alone at the White House microphone under Trump’s watch without South Korea’s president, and Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, met directly with President Xi Jinping in China.

The United States will soon announce the mutually agreed tariff rates it had previously warned about. The unavoidable time for negotiation has arrived. South Korea, the ‘8th largest country with a trade surplus with the US,’ is already targeted. Chanting the ‘70-year South Korea-US alliance’ offers no shield in the current situation. There is no way to avoid the ‘first arrow’ shot by Trump. The problem lies in our internal ‘second arrow.’

Starting with the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the presidential impeachment, we must calm political turmoil and prepare for the turbulent international situation by regrouping. If we fail to do so, the second arrow we have created ourselves will ultimately fly into and pierce the South Korean economy. This is not a time to waste on internal issues. Beyond the negotiation table, Trump is waiting.