Kang Yujeong: "I Don't Understand How National Interest Is Harmed"... Park Sooyoung: "Completely Out of Touch with the Urgent Reality Facing Businesses"

On Questions About National Interest Being Harmed by Prolonged Tariff Negotiations
Spokesperson Kang: "Just Over 100 Days Since Government Launch"
Soo-Young Park: "Presidential Office Completely Out of Touch With Industry Reality"

Spokesperson Kang Yujeong from the Presidential Office has come under fire for her remarks regarding tariff negotiations with the United States. On September 16, Soo-Young Park, a member of the People Power Party and the opposition secretary of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, criticized Kang during a party countermeasures meeting at the National Assembly, saying, "The Presidential Office under Lee Jaemyung is completely out of touch with reality."

Suyeong Park, member of the People Power Party

Park stated, "During yesterday's briefing, Spokesperson Kang said, 'I do not understand the argument that prolonged Korea-US tariff negotiations could harm the national interest.' She also made a statement that is not true, saying, 'As far as I know, the 25% tariff on our country's automobile companies will not be immediately applied starting tomorrow.' I have no choice but to say that the Presidential Office under Lee Jaemyung is utterly unaware of the urgency and reality faced by businesses, where every minute and second counts."

Park continued, "Even just looking at the finalized export and import figures for August, which were announced yesterday morning, reveals the Presidential Office's complacent grasp of reality. While total exports increased by 1.2% (58.4 billion dollars), exports to the United States plummeted by as much as 12%, amounting to a decrease of 12.13 trillion won (8.74 billion dollars) compared to the same month last year." He added, "Automobiles, which are directly hit by tariffs, saw a 15% drop, and auto parts fell by 22%. It is obvious that the longer the delay, the more our companies' competitiveness will decline and the greater the drop in exports will be. How can the timeline not be important?"

He further pointed out, "The statement that 'the 25% tariff will not be immediately applied to our automobile companies starting tomorrow' is completely incorrect. Our automobiles have been subject to a 25% itemized tariff since April, and auto parts since May." He explained, "Although the two countries have verbally agreed on a 15% tariff, the United States has not issued an executive order because detailed negotiations have not been finalized." He added, "Upon checking, the auto industry was reportedly very taken aback by the Presidential Office's statements that were not based on facts."

He emphasized, "Is the desperate cry of the auto industry, saying 'we do not have much capacity to endure,' not reaching the ears of the Lee Jaemyung administration? Our companies are enduring every moment in fear of uncertainty, waiting for the government to swiftly conclude negotiations. The saying 'time is money' is a desperate reality right in front of our country and our companies."

Kang Yujeong, Spokesperson of the Presidential Office. Yonhap News Agency

On September 15, during a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office, Spokesperson Kang was asked, "If the Korea-US tariff negotiations are prolonged, it could harm the national interest. Is there a set deadline for the negotiations?" She replied, "I do not really understand on what basis you are saying that a prolonged negotiation would harm the national interest," and added, "It is difficult to say that the negotiation period and the national interest are necessarily linked." She further explained, "The government has been negotiating tariffs for just over 100 days since its launch. Compared to other governments that began negotiations much earlier, it is hard to call this a prolonged process."

When asked, "From tomorrow, a 15% tariff will be imposed on Japanese cars in the United States. Is the government discussing measures with companies to minimize the damage to our businesses?" Kang responded, "As far as I know, Korean automobile companies will not be immediately subject to the 25% tariff starting tomorrow."

However, at present, Korean automobiles and auto parts exported to the United States are already subject to a 25% tariff. Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced that, starting from the 16th, Japanese automobiles and auto parts imported into the United States will be subject to a 15% tariff, reduced from the previous 27.5%.