Seoul, South Korea – When Sideny Sim had an opportunity to go to the US on enterprise a number of years in the past, it was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.
Like many South Koreans, Sim had lengthy admired the US as a cultural juggernaut and optimistic drive on the earth.
Nowadays, Sim, a 38-year-old engineer residing close to Seoul, feels no such love in direction of the nation.
As US President Donald Trump threatens to impose a 25 p.c tariff on South Korea from August 1, Sim can’t assist however really feel betrayed.
“In the event that they was a rustic that was identified to be a frontrunner in tradition, the economic system and the notion of being ‘good,’ I really feel just like the US is now a risk to geopolitical stability,” Sim advised Al Jazeera.
South Korea and the US share deep and enduring ties.
South Korea is one in all Washington’s closest allies in Asia, internet hosting about 28,000 US troops as a bulwark towards North Korea.
The US is house to a bigger South Korean diaspora than every other nation.
However with the return of Trump’s “America First” agenda to Washington, DC, these ties are coming beneath pressure.
In a Pew Analysis Heart survey launched earlier this month, 61 p.c of South Koreans expressed a beneficial view of the US, down from 77 p.c in 2024.
Like dozens of different US buying and selling companions, South Korea is dealing with extreme financial disruption if it can’t attain a commerce cope with the Trump administration by the August deadline.
The Asian nation, which is a serious producer of electronics, ships and automobiles, generates greater than 40 p.c of its gross home product (GDP) from exports.
Along with sending a letter to South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung outlining his tariff threats, Trump earlier this month additionally claimed that Seoul pays “little or no” to assist the presence of US Forces Korea (USFK).
Trump’s feedback bolstered hypothesis that he might demand that the South Korean authorities improve its nationwide defence spending or contributions to the prices of the USFK.
After Trump final week advised reporters that South Korea “desires to make a deal proper now,” Seoul’s prime commerce envoy stated that an “in-principle” settlement was doable by the deadline.
With the clock ticking on a deal, the uncertainty created by Trump’s commerce insurance policies has stirred resentment amongst many South Koreans.
Kim Hyunju, a customer support agent working in Seoul, stated that though her firm wouldn’t be immediately affected by the tariffs, Trump’s commerce salvoes didn’t appear truthful.
“It might solely be truthful if they’re OK with us elevating our tariffs to the identical degree as properly,” Kim advised Al Jazeera, including that the Trump administration’s actions had brought on her to really feel animosity in direction of the US.
“I can’t assist however see the US as a strong nation which fulfils its pursuits with cash and sheer energy performs,” Kim stated.
“I’ve at all times considered the US as a pleasant ally that’s particular to us, particularly by way of nationwide defence. I do know it’s good for us to take care of this pleasant standing, however I kind of misplaced religion when Trump additionally demanded a bigger sum of money for the US navy presence in our nation.”
Kim Chang-chul, an funding strategist in Seoul, expressed a extra sanguine view of Trump’s commerce insurance policies, even whereas acknowledging the hurt they may do to South Korean companies.
“The US tariff coverage is a burden for our authorities and companies, however the transfer actually reveals the depth of US decision-making and technique,” Kim advised Al Jazeera.
“Trump desires South Korea to be extra concerned within the US’s power ambitions in Alaska. It’s a part of the US pushing for geopolitical realignment and financial rebalancing.”
Earlier this 12 months, the US held talks with South Korean officers about boosting US exports of liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) to South Korea, a serious LNG importer.
Keum Hye-yoon, a researcher on the Korea Institute for Worldwide Financial Coverage (KIEP), stated it has been tough for a US ally like South Korea to make sense of Trump’s feedback and actions.
“When Trump cites ‘equity’ in his tariff coverage, it’s based mostly on unilateral expectations of bettering the US commerce stability or restoring financial energy to sure industries,” Keum advised Al Jazeera.
“As allies like South Korea share provide chains with the US and work carefully with its firms, disregarding these constructions and imposing excessive taxes will doubtless create burdens on US companies and customers as properly.”
Whereas Trump’s most extreme tariffs have but to return into impact, South Korean producers have already reported some disruption.
South Korea’s exports dropped 2.2 p.c within the first 20 days of July in contrast with a 12 months earlier, in keeping with preliminary information launched by Korea Customs Service on Monday.
Kim Sung-hyeok, the top of analysis on the Korean Confederation of Commerce Unions (KCTU) Labour Institute, stated exporters within the auto, metal, semiconductor and pharmaceutical sectors had been particularly affected.
“As exports in these fields decreased significantly for the reason that tariff bulletins, manufacturing orders in home factories have declined,” Kim advised Al Jazeera.
“Some automotive and metal manufacturing traces have closed quickly, whereas different manufacturing websites have closed altogether. Voluntary resignations and redeployments have develop into rampant in a few of these workplaces.”
Kim stated small firms could face the brunt of the tariffs as they don’t seem to be able to “shifting their manufacturing vegetation to the US”, or “diversifying their commerce avenues exterior of the US”.
“And as main firms face a common decline in exports, these small firms will consequently face a scarcity in product supply quantity that can trigger employment disputes,” he stated.
The Korea Growth Institute estimated in Might that the variety of employed South Koreans would improve by simply 90,000 this 12 months, partly as a result of financial uncertainties, in contrast with an increase of 160,000 final 12 months.
Even earlier than Trump’s arrival on the political scene, US-South Korea relations had gone by way of tough intervals prior to now.
In 2002, two South Korean middle-school ladies had been killed once they had been struck by a US Military armoured car.
After the American troopers concerned within the incident had been discovered not responsible of negligent murder by a US navy court docket, the nation noticed an explosion in anti-US sentiment and nationwide protests.
In 2008, nationwide protests happened after the South Korean authorities determined to proceed importing US beef regardless of issues in regards to the threat of Mad Cow Illness.
Extra just lately, President Lee, who was elected in June, has emphasised the significance of sustaining optimistic relations with China, Washington’s greatest strategic rival and competitor.
The KIEP’s Keum stated the US-South Korea relationship has advanced right into a partnership the place the US has develop into a “conditional ally”, the place “financial pursuits take priority over conventional alliance”.
“The US is more and more demanding South Korea to cooperate in its containment technique of China amongst its different socioeconomic insurance policies,” she stated.
Keum stated that South Korea might want to hunt down various markets and diversify its exports to mitigate the fallout of Trump’s agenda.
“South Korea additionally doesn’t have to act alone. The nation can search joint motion with nations akin to EU members, Japan and Canada to provide you with joint responses to the present predicament,” she stated.
