Wi Sunglak Heads to U.S. Ahead of Tariff Suspension Deadline
Meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Negotiate Tariffs and Coordinate Summit Schedule
Kang Hunsik, Kim Yongbeom, and Woo Sangho Attend High-Level Government-Party Meeting
Swift Execution of Livelihood Recovery Support Fund and Active Cooperation on Confirmation Hearings Urged
Key Test for Solutions in Livelihood, Economy, Diplomacy, and Trade
As of July 4, just over a month since President Lee Jaemyung's inauguration, the pace of activity among senior aides at the presidential office has accelerated. Over the weekend, in response to pressing issues such as the South Korea-U.S. summit and imminent tariff negotiations, National Security Advisor Wi Sunglak boarded a direct flight to the United States. Meanwhile, Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hunsik, Policy Chief Kim Yongbeom, and Senior Political Affairs Secretary Woo Sangho attended the first high-level government-party consultative meeting presided over by Prime Minister Kim Minseok. At this meeting, they conveyed President Lee's requests and appeals, including the swift execution of the supplementary budget and active cooperation with the personnel hearing process. Key presidential aides have been working tirelessly, each addressing domestic and international challenges.
On the morning of July 6, Advisor Wi departed for Washington, D.C., from Incheon International Airport, tasked with two urgent missions: first, negotiating tariffs, and second, coordinating the rescheduled South Korea-U.S. summit. With the U.S.-proposed mutual tariff suspension deadline of July 8 fast approaching, this visit is likely to serve as a major turning point, moving beyond routine working-level contact to seek a substantive diplomatic and trade solution.
Just before boarding his flight, Advisor Wi told reporters, "Various trade and security issues have been under discussion between South Korea and the United States. As the negotiations are entering a critical phase, I am visiting the U.S. to increase my involvement." He added, "Similar discussions took place during my visit to the NATO summit, and this trip is a continuation of those talks." In fact, he plans to meet with U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio to address not only the tariff issue but also the summit schedule.
Trade Minister Yeo Hankoo is also staying in Washington, D.C., holding talks with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on extending the suspension. South Korea is in urgent need of extending tariff benefits for key export items such as steel, semiconductors, and automobiles, while the United States is focused on stabilizing supply chains in Asia and countering China. By dispatching Advisor Wi, the highest-ranking official available, President Lee appears to be seeking a political breakthrough at the intersection of these mutual interests.
Domestically, Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hunsik attended the government-party consultative meeting to deliver President Lee's message. Kang stated, "It has been a month since the new administration was launched, and now is the time for results," urging the ruling party to expedite the completion of the cabinet member confirmation process. He pointed out, "Since the introduction of confirmation hearings in 2005, the Lee Myungbak administration completed cabinet formation in 17 days, but the Moon Jaein administration, which started without a transition team, took 195 days. The Lee Jaemyung administration has barely managed to inaugurate the prime minister after a month." He emphasized that delays in confirmation hearings undermine the predictability of future schedules and called for cooperation.
He also stressed the need for the swift execution of the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund included in the supplementary budget. The basic support amount is 150,000 won per person for all citizens, with tailored support of 300,000 won per person for the near-poor and single-parent families, and 400,000 won per person for basic livelihood security recipients. The government will provide an additional 30,000 won to residents outside the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon metropolitan areas, and an extra 50,000 won to residents in 84 rural and fishing communities facing population decline. Kang emphasized that the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund will serve as a catalyst to revitalize the domestic market, reiterated the president's remark that "timing is everything in the economy," and requested the ruling party's cooperation for swift policy implementation.
Earlier, on July 5, despite it being a Saturday, President Lee convened an emergency cabinet meeting attended for the first time by Prime Minister Kim, to review and approve a supplementary budget totaling 31.8 trillion won. This followed the passage of the budget in the National Assembly plenary session the previous day, after much debate. President Lee stated, "This supplementary budget was urgently prepared in response to the extremely difficult national economic situation. It must be executed as soon as possible to serve as a catalyst for improving people's lives on the ground, which is why I called this cabinet meeting over the weekend." He urged all relevant ministries to do their utmost to ensure rapid execution. After receiving a report from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the plan to distribute livelihood recovery consumption coupons, he also requested that the process be managed carefully to avoid any confusion. Additionally, he called for responsible responses from relevant ministries to issues directly affecting people's lives, such as heatwave countermeasures, industrial accident prevention, and price stabilization.
To address these pressing issues, President Lee also reportedly asked Prime Minister Kim to "take good care of Sejong." In response, Prime Minister Kim plans to stay in Sejong for a week starting July 7 to focus on national affairs. On July 9, he will visit the National Assembly and the presidential office sites in Sejong, and hold meetings at the Sejong government complex with organizations such as the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences and the National Research Council of Science and Technology. During this period, he will commute from Sejong to Seoul to handle any necessary business.
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