Choi Sang-mok, acting president and Minister of Strategy and Finance, held a meeting on external economic issues at the Government Seoul Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the morning of the 24th, to review the executive orders, including the "America First Trade Policy Memorandum," signed by President Donald Trump and discuss countermeasures.
Attendees of the meeting included Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-youl, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun, National Government Coordination Office Director Bang Gi-sun, Presidential Policy Office Director Sung Tae-yoon, and National Security Office Director Shinwon.
Participants in the meeting assessed that policies being announced following Trump's inauguration, such as U.S.-centric trade policies, expansion of energy development and production including traditional fossil fuels, and tax policies favoring U.S. corporations, would have direct and indirect impacts on the Korean economy.
Choi noted that "under the principle of prioritizing national interests, we need to re-evaluate the response directions we have prepared so far, focusing on issues with significant ripple effects on our economy," and directed that communication with corporations be actively pursued in the process, in addition to a phased response through the meeting on external economic issues.