Acting Chief Executive Choi Sang-mok "Promoting a Call with President Trump Sooner"

Regarding the launch of the new U.S. government, Acting President Choi Sang-mok said, "The government has been systematically preparing for the response, putting our national interests first, even before the U.S. presidential election."

He also said he will push for a phone call with President Trump as soon as possible and conduct high-level communication between the two countries, including foreign and industrial ministers.

Acting President Choi held a meeting on foreign economic issues this morning and said he hopes the launch of the new U.S. administration will serve as an opportunity for the bilateral relationship between South Korea and the U.S. to develop more mutually.

Acting Choi stressed that it is difficult to predict the impact of specific policies, such as executive orders that President Trump will sign in the future, on our economy, but measures such as strengthening protectionism and abolishing mandatory purchases of electric vehicles, such as the establishment of an external import office and increasing tariffs, are expected to have a direct and indirect impact on our economy.

He also said that he also worked closely with our companies to prepare an action plan for each expected issue to minimize negative effects.

In the future, based on thorough preparations, we will build a cooperative relationship with the new U.S. government at all levels so that the people do not feel anxious, it added.

Choi said the government will actively utilize opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries, including shipbuilding cooperation, which President Trump has expressed interest in, while maximizing opportunities for the launch of a new U.S. government and minimizing risk factors.