Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Visits by top Korean officials to US fuel jitters ahead of Trump summit
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun arrives at Gimpo International Airport, July 29, to depart for Tokyo for a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
A spate of last-minute visits to Washington by top Korean officials has heightened concerns that talks may be hitting obstacles on the eve of President Lee Jae Myung’s first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun abruptly departed Seoul on Thursday and arrived in Washington later that night (local time). He is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The sudden move forced him to skip a planned trip to Tokyo this weekend, where he had been scheduled to accompany Lee on the president's first visit to Japan since taking office.
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo arrived in Washington on Wednesday and met the following day with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan is due Friday for meetings with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
The flurry of visits underscores Seoul’s push to lock down the details of a tariff agreement reached in July, a deal widely expected to dominate Monday’s summit in Washington.
Cho's early trip, however, has raised eyebrows.
His sudden departure excluded him from Lee's official entourage for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Saturday. It is unusual for a foreign minister to forgo a summit, particularly one marking the president's first trip to Japan.
President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump / AFP-Yonhap
Because the decision was made at the last minute, Cho reportedly flew to Washington on a connecting route, as no direct flights were available. He was accompanied by a small group of working-level officials, including the deputy director-general for North American affairs.
"Given the significance of this summit as the first meeting between the new administrations of Korea and the U.S., the minister plans to arrive in Washington in advance to conduct a final on-site review with the U.S. side, ensuring more thorough and meticulous preparations," a foreign ministry official said.
Asked if the foreign minister's trip reflected difficulties in hammering out a joint statement for the summit, the official declined to comment.
The summit is expected to cover not only the trade deal but also sensitive security issues, including growing U.S. pressure on Korea to increase defense spending and calls for an expanded role for U.S. Forces Korea in countering China.
Some observers have speculated that the prolonged vacancy in Korea's ambassador post in Washington may have led to gaps in summit preparations, although diplomatic sources say the impact was minimal.
Since former Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong stepped down in July, the post has remained vacant. Kang Kyung-hwa, the former foreign minister tapped to replace him, is still awaiting agrément — the host nation’s formal approval — making it improbable that she will assume the post before the summit.
Instead, speculation is rising that Kang will join Lee's U.S. trip as a special delegate, a role that can be filled by individuals from the private sector.
Meanwhile, the presidential office said Friday it will send a delegation of special envoys to China on Sunday.
The special envoys' trip to Beijing, which coincides with the president's visit to Washington, highlights the Lee administration's careful balancing act between the U.S., its key ally, and China, its largest trading partner, amid persistent U.S.-China tensions.
Led by former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, the group will make a four-day visit carrying a personal letter from the president about ways to boost bilateral relations. Lawmakers Kim Tae-nyeon and Park Jeung, along with Roh Jae-hun, son of former President Roh Tae-woo, will join the mission.