What did Foreign Minister Cho Hyun discuss with U.S. lawmakers in Washington?

Cho discussed bilateral relations, issues related to the Korean Peninsula and global security. He also asked for active U.S. congressional support so the Joint Fact Sheet can be implemented quickly.

Which U.S. lawmakers did Cho Hyun meet during his Washington trip?

Cho met Sen. Bill Hagerty, Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Gregory Meeks separately on Thursday. The ministry said the meetings were part of his three-day visit to Washington starting Thursday.

What is the Joint Fact Sheet mentioned in Cho Hyun's talks with Congress?

It is the document released in November after the Lee Jae Myung-Trump summit. It outlines commitments including South Korea's $350 billion investment pledge in the United States, a reduced U.S. tariff rate, and cooperation on nuclear and other security issues.

FM Cho meets US lawmakers to discuss alliance, regional security

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Summary

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met U.S. lawmakers in Washington on Thursday and discussed bilateral relations, the Korean Peninsula and global security. He urged active U.S. congressional support for swift implementation of the Joint Fact Sheet. Cho also said Seoul would keep strengthening the alliance through communication with the U.S. administration and Congress.

Key Facts

Cho was in Washington for a three-day trip from Thursday and met separately with Sen. Bill Hagerty, Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Gregory Meeks.
The Joint Fact Sheet was released in November after the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The fact sheet includes South Korea's pledge to invest $350 billion in the United States in exchange for a reduced U.S. tariff rate, along with cooperation in the nuclear sector and other security-related issues.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 18, 2026 12:17 pm KST

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, front right, listens to U.S. Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee during their meeting in Washington, Sept. 17. Courtesy of the foreign ministry

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has met with U.S. lawmakers in Washington and discussed bilateral relations and issues related to the Korean Peninsula and global security, the foreign ministry said Friday.

Cho, who is in Washington for a three-day trip from Thursday, met separately with Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) on Thursday, according to the ministry.

Cho told the lawmakers that the importance of close cooperation between Seoul and Washington has grown amid rapidly changing international circumstances, calling for active support from the U.S. Congress to ensure the swift implementation of the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS).

The JFS, released in November following the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, outlines a range of commitments by both sides, including Seoul's pledge to invest $350 billion in the United States in exchange for a reduced U.S. tariff rate, as well as cooperation in the nuclear sector and other security-related issues.

Hagerty praised Seoul's efforts to strengthen trilateral cooperation with Washington and Tokyo and pledged continued support for the alliance, including Korean companies operating in Tennessee.

Jordan stressed the need to manage bilateral issues based on mutual trust and continue efforts to strengthen the alliance.

Meeks called for closer Seoul-Washington coordination on peace and security issues and said the U.S. Congress would continue to support bilateral cooperation based on bipartisan backing for the alliance, according to the ministry.

Cho said Seoul would continue to strengthen the alliance through active communication with both the U.S. administration and Congress. He also called on lawmakers to maintain their support for the alliance following the November midterm elections, the ministry said.

Cho is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday before holding a series of meetings with think tank experts and other officials through Saturday.

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