It has been confirmed that Wi Seong-lak, the head of the National Security Office at the Presidential Office, was unable to meet with Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, during his four-day visit to the United States. The Presidential Office stated that phone consultations were conducted, but there are observations that it is disappointing that Wi had to wait for four days in the U.S. without seeing him even once. A scheduled '2+2' consultation between the finance and trade heads of Korea and the U.S. on the 25th in Washington, D.C., was also canceled due to sudden schedule changes from the U.S. There are also predictions that abnormal currents have arisen in Korea-U.S. relations.
According to the Presidential Office and political circles on the 24th, Deputy Minister Wi will return home without meeting Minister Marco Rubio on this day. He headed to the U.S. on the 20th, aiming to find a breakthrough in Korea-U.S. trade negotiations.
The United States has announced that it will impose a 25% reciprocal tariff on Korean imports starting August 1. Japan has negotiated with the U.S. to lower the tariff rate to 15%, and it is reported that the European Union (EU) is on the verge of reaching a 15% reciprocal tariff agreement. While key allies of the U.S. are making progress in reciprocal tariff negotiations, there has been no significant news from Korea.
The Korean government was planning for Deputy Minister Wi and high-ranking officials from the foreign, economic, and trade sectors to travel to the U.S. for tariff negotiations. However, it has been confirmed that failing to meet with Minister Rubio, who is regarded as the key figure in the tariff negotiations, has raised concerns about a red light not just in tariff negotiations but in Korea-U.S. relations overall.
After reports emerged that Deputy Minister Wi had not met Minister Rubio, the Presidential Office unusually clarified Wi's specific itinerary in an attempt to manage the situation. The Presidential Office stated, "On the afternoon of the 21st, Deputy Minister Wi visited the West Wing of the White House to meet with Minister Rubio, and senior officials within the National Security Council and the Secretary of State's office were present," adding, "Moments before the meeting, President Trump urgently called Minister Rubio, so Deputy Minister Wi waited and exchanged sufficient opinions and conveyed positions on Korea-U.S. issues with those present."
The fact that the meeting between Deputy Minister Wi and Minister Rubio did not take place was also acknowledged by the Presidential Office. A Presidential Office official noted, "The meeting between Minister Rubio and President Trump ran long, making it impossible for him to attend," and added, "While additional consultations were agreed upon, on the 22nd, we were contacted by Minister Rubio's side that due to the U.S.-Philippines summit events, face-to-face consultations would be difficult, and they requested to proceed with phone consultations." Ultimately, consultations between Deputy Minister Wi and Minister Rubio were held over the phone. The official from the Presidential Office stated, "Minister Rubio apologized three times and explained that he would faithfully share the discussed contents with President Trump and the relevant ministers."
The '2+2' consultation between the finance and trade heads of Korea and the U.S., which was scheduled to be held in Washington, D.C., was also suddenly canceled. The Ministry of Economy and Finance explained that it was canceled due to the urgent schedule of U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. However, there are criticisms that this is a diplomatic breach, as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Koo Yun-cheol, received news of the cancellation while he was waiting at the airport to travel to the U.S. The Ministry of Economy and Finance spokesperson, Kang Young-kyu, met reporters at Incheon Airport and stated, "It hasn't been long since we received the news," adding, "We received contact this morning from the U.S. side."
Professor Min Jeong-hoon from the National Diplomatic Academy's Americas Research Division stated, "In the case of consultations like the '2+2 consultation,' it is not a usual occurrence to unilaterally postpone a scheduled calendar at the last moment," adding, "As we are showing efforts to protect Korea's interests through 'all-out pressing,' it seems that there was a misalignment in the schedule."
The opposition party continued its offensive, citing evidence that the U.S. side distrusts the Lee Jae-myung administration. Song Eon-seok, the emergency response committee chairman and floor leader of the People Power Party, wrote on Facebook, "The Lee Jae-myung government has shaken the trust of the Korea-U.S. alliance since its inception, with considerations for attending China's victory day and suspending loudspeakers against North Korea," adding, "By missing the Korea-U.S. summit at the G7 and not attending the NATO summit, they have undermined their own opportunity to meet with President Trump. With the recent cancellation of negotiations, doubts have deepened that the U.S. side distrusts the Lee Jae-myung administration."