Song Eonseok: "Obstructing Diplomacy for Political Calculations"
Japan's 15% Tariff Rate Becomes the Minimum Threshold
Party Leadership Candidates Also Criticize US Diplomacy
Regarding the sudden collapse of the South Korea-US 2+2 negotiations, the People Power Party raised the issue of responsibility on President Lee Jaemyung and the Democratic Party of Korea. The People Power Party argued that the doubts held by US President Donald Trump must be addressed.
On July 24, Song Eonseok, interim leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed concerns about the breakdown of the 'South Korea-US 2+2 negotiations' through social media. Song stated, "The government cited the 'urgent schedule' of US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant as the reason, but in reality, concerns are growing that tariff negotiations between South Korea and the US are facing significant difficulties," adding, "The responsibility for this negotiation crisis lies with President Lee and the Democratic Party."
Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on July 24, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Earlier that day, the Ministry of Economy and Finance announced, "The meeting could not be held due to Secretary Besant's urgent schedule," and added, "Both sides plan to coordinate a new schedule as soon as possible and arrange a meeting at the earliest possible date."
He continued, "In particular, last April, President Lee and the Democratic Party openly pressured former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo and former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sangmok not to engage in tariff negotiations and to leave the matter to the next administration. Ultimately, they did not hesitate to impeach cabinet members, and as a result, our diplomacy has been paralyzed." He further criticized, "Now, there are even reports that they are hurriedly meeting with conglomerate leaders and scrambling to establish US contacts. They have obstructed diplomacy for political calculations, and now, as the national interest is threatened, they are clumsily trying to manage the situation, which is truly incompetent."
Song emphasized, "The 15% tariff rate secured by Japan has now become the minimum threshold that the Lee Jaemyung administration must uphold," and pointed out, "The problem is that with trust between South Korea and the US broken, in order to conclude negotiations at the 15% level, the question is what and how much our government will have to concede." He insisted, "Even now, President Lee must dispel the Trump administration's doubts and restore the trust of our alliance."
Park Sunghoon, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, also commented, "While the US and Japan have concluded their trade negotiations, our lack of any progress only heightens the sense of anxiety."
Jang Donghyuk, a lawmaker who has declared his candidacy for the party leadership, stated via social media, "On the surface, the South Korea-US tariff negotiations appear to be economic issues, but at their core, they are political. If South Korea-US relations do not improve, it will become the greatest risk for the Lee Jaemyung administration." He further stressed, "We must identify the political issues that President Trump wants addressed, dispel misunderstandings with the US, and build a relationship of trust between the two countries. Through this, we must strengthen the solid South Korea-US alliance and protect Korea's industry and national interest."
Jang Sungmin, former Director of Future Strategy Planning at the Presidential Office and another declared candidate for party leadership, described the negotiations as "a representative case of 'diplomatic failure with lost national interest,' revealing to the world that the Lee Jaemyung administration's trade diplomacy with the US is in ruins." He expressed concern, "At this rate, not only the path for exports to the US but the entire economic security front will fall into uncertainty."
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