SEOUL (Reuters-Bloomberg): South Korea has dismissed its chief trade negotiator, the Industry Ministry said on Saturday, without disclosing a reason.
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo had been South Korea's principal trade envoy, making several trips to Washington this year to meet U.S. administration and congressional officials on tariffs, chip measures and digital policy concerns.
The ministry said personnel decisions involving political appointees were within the president's authority and that it would work to ensure no disruption to pending trade matters.
No replacement has been named yet.
However, South Korea said discussions with the US over strategic investment projects are continuing, following a media report that Washington is pressing Seoul to accelerate the plans.
Talks with the US are underway through various channels and the South Korean government is responding to bilateral trade issues through frequent communication, an official at the presidential office said Saturday in response to a Bloomberg News query on the report.
The Korea Economic Daily said on Friday Washington had expressed dissatisfaction that South Korea has yet to announce projects under a $200 billion strategic investment commitment. It said the US Department of Commerce emailed South Korea this week, following similar communications late last month, to get Seoul to speed up projects tied to reciprocal tariffs. The emails indicated further delays could be reported to President Donald Trump, the daily said.
The South Korean presidential official declined to confirm specific details of bilateral discussions or internal government communications and responses.
In March, South Korea's parliament approved a special bill required to implement a pledge to invest $350 billion in the US. The bill paved the way for the creation of a new state-run vehicle to oversee investment projects tied to last year's trade agreement with Washington.
Delays in implementing the commitment had irked Trump, prompting him in January to threaten duties of up to 25% on US imports of Korean goods and spurring South Korea to fast-track the bill's passage. The $350 billion pledge included $200 billion for strategic investments and $150 billion for shipbuilding cooperation.
