President Lee Jae Myung (R) presides over an open United Nations Security Council debate on artificial intelligence at U.N. headquarters in New York on Sept. 24, 2025. (Yonhap)
NEW YORK, Sept. 24 (Korea Bizwire) – President Lee Jae-myung told U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that he expects ongoing trade negotiations with Washington to advance in a way that reflects the interests of both countries and rests on “commercial rationality.”
The two met in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, as Seoul and Washington work to finalize the framework trade deal reached in late July. The agreement includes South Korea’s pledge to invest $350 billion in the United States.
“President Lee said he hopes discussions will move forward in a manner that serves the interests of both South Korea and the United States, based on commercial rationality,” Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, told reporters.
Lee also stressed that Seoul’s situation differs sharply from Japan’s, which recently concluded its own investment deal with Washington. He pointed to differences in economic scale, foreign exchange reserves, market structure and infrastructure, saying these factors should be reflected in the talks.
According to Kim, Bessent responded that President Donald Trump places high importance on South Korea as a strategic partner, particularly in shipbuilding, and has repeatedly emphasized its role. He added that Washington values Seoul’s investment and cooperation in critical industries and expressed appreciation for its active support.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
