The BGA Korea Team, led by Managing Director B.J. Kim, wrote on Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s latest trip to the United States and the issues he will discuss with U.S. President Joe Biden.

Context

  • Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will make a high-stakes state visit to the United States during the week of April 24. His theme will be “strengthening the cutting-edge technology alliance.”
  • Yoon will seek to bolster his popularity at home by stressing important economic and security issues. Support from the White House will help him confront Koreans on the other side of the aisle who are eager to criticize the Seoul government and the Biden administration.

Significance

  • Yoon will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House April 26 and speak before a joint session of Congress the following day. He will participate in business and economic events in Washington, D.C., and Boston together with a 122-member Korean delegation.
  • Yoon will need to show results on the following challenging issues:extended deterrence, cybersecurity, electric vehicle subsidies, semiconductors and nuclear energy.

Implications

  • Yoon’s visit to Japan in March was not received well at home. His national security team was reshuffled at the end of March, only a few weeks before this state visit to the United States, leading to speculation and rumors.
  • Biden’s assurances of mutual trust and respect will help Yoon deal with domestic criticism. Yoon hopes the United States will upgrade its commitment to extended deterrence for the Korean peninsula.

We will continue to keep you updated on developments in Korea as they occur. If you have any questions or comments, please contact BGA Korea Managing Director B.J. Kim at bjkim@bowergroupasia.com.

Best regards,

BGA Korea Team

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Managing Director

B.J. supports BGA clients on the ground in Korea, advising them on stakeholder engagement and larger government affairs and public policy matters in Seoul. A former Korean diplomat, B.J. has advised international firms on political-economic and policy-regulatory affairs since 2003, offering monitoring and analytical services on legislative, regulatory and political issues. He also has offered companies hands-on support in their engagement in Korea. Prior to his career in consulting, B.J. was a diplomat serving two of Korea’s trade ministers as policy counselor and special assistant, developing international economic policies and public communications strategies on export and investment promotion. He has ... Read More