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South Korea Schedules Pre‑Lunar New Year Interpellation as U.S. Tariff Threat Looms

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  • Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the ruling Democratic Party speaks during a press briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 1, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the ruling Democratic Party speaks during a press briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 1, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Rep. Lim Lee-ja (R) of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who chairs the parliamentary Finance, Economy, Planning and Budget committee, meets with Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 4, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Rep. Lim Lee-ja (R) of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who chairs the parliamentary Finance, Economy, Planning and Budget committee, meets with Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 4, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, speaks during a meeting on a military airport relocation in the southwestern city of Gwangju in this Dec. 17, 2025, file photo. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, speaks during a meeting on a military airport relocation in the southwestern city of Gwangju in this Dec. 17, 2025, file photo. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Rep. Lim Lee-ja (R) of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who chairs the parliamentary Finance, Economy, Planning and Budget committee, meets with Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 4, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Rep. Lim Lee-ja (R) of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who chairs the parliamentary Finance, Economy, Planning and Budget committee, meets with Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 4, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Rep. Han Jeoung-ae (L) of the ruling Democratic Party enters a press briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 1, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Rep. Han Jeoung-ae (L) of the ruling Democratic Party enters a press briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 1, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, speaks during a meeting on a military airport relocation in the southwestern city of Gwangju in this Dec. 17, 2025, file photo. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, speaks during a meeting on a military airport relocation in the southwestern city of Gwangju in this Dec. 17, 2025, file photo. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) Source Full size

Finance Committee Sets Interpellation Before Lunar New Year The Finance, Economy, Planning and Budget Committee, chaired by Rep. Lim Lee‑ja of the People Power Party, agreed on Feb. 4 to hold an interpellation session before the Feb. 14 holiday. Lawmakers will question Finance Minister Koo Yun‑cheol on the status of the special U.S. investment bill and ongoing tariff negotiations. The session aims to accelerate parliamentary action ahead of the holiday break [1].

Special Investment Bill Targets $350 Billion U.S. Commitment The Democratic Party introduced a special bill in November 2025 to implement South Korea’s $350 billion investment pledge under the trade deal signed by President Lee Jae Myung and President Donald Trump. The draft outlines a strategic investment fund and a series of memoranda of understanding, but remains stuck in a parliamentary committee awaiting a plenary vote. The party plans an extraordinary session in late February or early March to secure passage [2][3].

Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs Over Legislative Delays U.S. President Donald Trump warned he could raise South Korean tariffs on goods and vehicles from 15 % to 25 % if the National Assembly does not approve the investment legislation promptly. Korean officials responded by briefing U.S. officials, with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun meeting Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan meeting Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington. Senior aide Kim Yong‑beom pledged detailed explanations of the bill’s progress to calm Washington’s concerns [1][3][4].

Parties Clash Over Passage Strategy While Seeking Quick Approval The ruling Democratic Party pushes for a late‑February vote, whereas the opposition People Power Party urges a memorandum of understanding on the $350 billion pledge to be ratified by the Assembly. Policy Committee chair Rep. Han Jeoung‑ae criticized the U.S. approach, warning that abrupt tariff hikes could damage the memoranda’s honor. Both sides agree on the urgency of passing the bill to avoid further tariff escalation [1][2].

Sources

Timeline

Oct 2025 – South Korea and the United States finalize a bilateral trade agreement at a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and President Donald Trump, pledging a US $350 billion investment package from Seoul to the U.S. [2]

Nov 2025 – The ruling Democratic Party submits a special investment bill to the National Assembly to operationalize the $350 billion pledge, placing the draft in a parliamentary committee for review. [5][6]

Jan 27, 2026 – President Trump posts on social media that reciprocal tariffs on South Korean goods will rise from 15 % to 25 % because the National Assembly has not completed the domestic steps required by the trade deal. South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance announces it will “work to gauge the intentions of the U.S. side” and will coordinate with Washington on the bill, while Finance Minister Choi meets the parliamentary finance committee and Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan prepares to travel to Washington for talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. [7][8]

Jan 27, 2026 – The Democratic Party declares it will launch February deliberations on the special investment bill and seeks opposition cooperation to pass it by the end of February; People Power Party leader Song Eon‑seog warns that “the Korean legislative process normally takes six to seven months even when expedited” and urges ratification of the trade pact instead. [5][6]

Jan 28, 2026 – Senior presidential aide Kim Yong‑beom says the government will “explain in detail that both the government and the National Assembly are making efforts” to the United States, linking Trump’s tariff threat directly to the bill’s delay and targeting a February vote; diplomatic talks are scheduled with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and pre‑implementation reviews of investment projects begin. [3][4]

Feb 1, 2026 – The Democratic Party pledges to push the bill through an extraordinary session slated for late February‑early March, aiming for a plenary vote; President Trump reiterates the 25 % tariff threat, while Industry Minister Kim meets U.S. Commerce Secretary and policy chief Han Jeoung‑ae calls the U.S. stance “deeply regrettable.” [2]

Feb 4, 2026 – The Finance, Economy, Planning and Budget Committee schedules an interpellation session before the Lunar New Year (ahead of the Feb 14 holiday) to question Finance Minister Koo Yun‑cheol on tariff talks and the investment bill; the Democratic Party pushes for bill passage within the month, whereas the People Power Party demands a memorandum of understanding on the $350 billion pledge be ratified by the Assembly. [1]

Late Feb – Early Mar 2026 (planned) – An extraordinary parliamentary session holds a plenary vote on the special investment bill, aiming to secure approval before any further U.S. tariff escalation. [2]

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