{"id":2200363,"date":"2023-03-10T18:02:01","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T09:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2200363"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:07:59","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:07:59","slug":"yoon-suk-yeols-state-visit-to-the-us-could-be-his-greatest-challenge-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/03\/yoon-suk-yeols-state-visit-to-the-us-could-be-his-greatest-challenge-yet\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s state visit to the US could be his greatest challenge yet"},"content":{"rendered":"
The White House <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> this week that President Yoon Suk-yeol will make a state visit to the U.S. on April 26 for a summit with President Joe Biden, the first such visit by an ROK leader in <\/span>12 years<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The high-profile nature of the visit speaks to the importance the two leaders place on their alliance. But the summit also comes at a sensitive time for U.S.-ROK ties, as Washington\u2019s protectionist policies and efforts to contain China risk hurting South Korean firms.<\/span><\/p>\n Although Yoon is staunchly pro-U.S., successfully managing voters\u2019 expectations at home and his allies abroad will be a tall order. As next year\u2019s election approaches, how well he does could shape the rest of his presidency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n DOMESTIC GRUMBLINGS<\/b><\/p>\n Listening to Yoon\u2019s speeches, one would be forgiven for thinking there aren\u2019t any issues or tensions between Seoul and Washington. The president has often remarked on the importance of liberal democracy and the alliance with the U.S. and did so again in his <\/span>address<\/span><\/a> to the ruling People Power Party\u2019s (PPP) national convention.<\/span><\/p>\n However, voters\u2019 feelings toward the U.S. have visibly cooled in the past year. A <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> published by Seoul University\u2019s Institute for Peace and Unification Studies showed that South Koreans who say the country should strengthen cooperation with the U.S. fell from 45.7% in 2021 to 39.9% in 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n While South Koreans\u2019 perceptions of the U.S. have <\/span>improved<\/span><\/a> since <\/span>Biden<\/span><\/a> became president, Seoul University\u2019s findings are notable since the loss of enthusiasm for cooperation with the U.S. comes as <\/span>unfavorable<\/span><\/a> views of China have hit record highs.<\/span><\/p>\n Two factors contributing to these cooling attitudes are the <\/span>Inflation Reduction Act<\/span><\/a> (IRA) and the <\/span>CHIPS and Science Act<\/span><\/a> (CHIPS).<\/span><\/p>\n When the IRA went into effect in Aug. 2022, it stipulated that only electric vehicles (EVs) assembled in North America are eligible for federal tax credits, thus disqualifying the EVs of South Korean car manufacturers like Hyundai.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite Biden\u2019s <\/span>claim<\/span><\/a> that \u201cAmerica is back\u201d after taking office, his administration has continued Trump-era protectionist policies, which has sent the Yoon administration <\/span>scrambling<\/span><\/a> to defend ROK companies\u2019 business interests.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korean and U.S. officials have met numerous times over Seoul\u2019s dissatisfaction with the IRA, but so far, the U.S. has only <\/span>offered<\/span><\/a> a limited exception for commercial use EVs.<\/span><\/p>\n Notably, when Biden visited the ROK in May 2022, he met with Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun to thank the auto giant for its <\/span>plans<\/span><\/a> to invest $10.5 billion to build an EV and battery plant in Georgia, which is projected to create over 8,000 American jobs.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo, Chairman Chung, thank you again for choosing the United States,\u201d Biden <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>. \u201cWe will not let you down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The irony of his statement has not been lost on South Koreans.<\/span><\/p>\n