Choi Sangmok, acting president of South Korea, said that he hopes bilateral relations between the United States and South Korea will develop more mutually under the Trump administration.

Choi, citing the slogan "We Go Together", said that the government would strive to strengthen its policy cooperation with the United States.

Choi, the acting president who has served since late December, announced that he would make every effort to speak with U.S. president Donald Trump as soon as possible. This was hours after Trump had been sworn into his second term of office as the 47th President of the United States.

Choi said that the government will also review the response measures to Trump’s proposed policies. This includes tariffs, electric vehicles and other issues which are expected directly to affect South Korea’s economy.

In 2024, Asia’s fourth largest economy, South Korea, earned a record surplus of $55.7 Billion in trade with the U.S. This is up 25,4% from 2023. This has led to concerns that Trump may seek to curb trade against South Korea. (Reporting and editing by Ed Davies.)

(source: Reuters)