The Korea-U.S. Parliamentary Association on the 4th held a meeting at the National Assembly, inviting Yeo Han-koo, head of the Office of the Minister for Trade, to review the status of negotiations with the United States on trade and tariff issues, as well as the Middle East situation and energy imports following the Iran crisis. At the meeting, the association also said it plans to visit Washington on the 23rd to push for the formation of a "U.S.-Korea parliamentary group" within the U.S. Congress.
Cho Kyung-tae, a People Power Party lawmaker who serves as president of the Korea-U.S. Parliamentary Association, said in opening remarks, "On the 23rd, I plan to lead a National Assembly delegation to the United States to meet key figures in Congress and the administration."
Deputy Minister Yeo said, "I feel the National Assembly's role is very important in stabilizing Korea-U.S. trade relations," adding, "In the United States, Congress holds trade authority," and, "At such a critical time, lawmakers of the Korea-U.S. Parliamentary Association directly communicating with members of the U.S. Congress is meaningful."
Kim Young-bae, the association's secretary, told reporters right after the meeting, "In the United States, there is currently a Korea study group under an association of former and current federal lawmakers, and that group is the largest organization," adding, "However, several other groups are dispersed, so there is no unified point of contact." He continued, "During this trip, we plan to ask that these groups be consolidated into a body that, like our Korea-U.S. Parliamentary Association, serves as a negotiation channel representing Congress," adding, "We are proposing so-called 'single-window' consolidation and regrouping."
Kim added, "We are seeking meetings with key figures on the Energy Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Judiciary Committee who handle U.S.-related trade issues, including the U.S. lawmaker who directly raised concerns related to Coupang." Kim said, "We are currently coordinating the schedule so we can meet broadly with members of the relevant standing committees."
The delegation to the United States will consist of six people, with lawmaker Cho Kyung-tae as Director General and Min Hong-cheol as deputy head, and the specific schedule and meeting counterparts will be finalized later.
Meanwhile, at the meeting that day, the Korea-U.S. Parliamentary Association also put Korea-U.S. trade issues and the Middle East situation on the agenda. The government reported that some tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) have been invalidated, but item tariffs on autos and steel under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act remain in place, and the association agreed that, given President Trump has hinted at the possibility of additional tariffs, a preemptive management strategy is needed so that Korea is not included in retaliatory tariffs or those surveyed under Sections 122 and 301.
Regarding the Middle East situation, the association also reviewed heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran crisis. While sharing the government's explanation that there is no major short-term supply issue as reserves now stand at about 190 million barrels of oil and nine days' worth of gas, they discussed the need to secure alternative volumes and prepare a contingency plan, and to continue monitoring key export and import items such as naphtha in case the situation drags on.