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South Korea Sends Working‑Level Team to Washington to Accelerate $350 Billion Investment Pledge

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  • This file photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi boarding USS George Washington (CVN-73) at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka on Oct. 28, 2025. (Yonhap)
    This file photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi boarding USS George Washington (CVN-73) at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka on Oct. 28, 2025. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    This file photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi boarding USS George Washington (CVN-73) at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka on Oct. 28, 2025. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • This file photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi boarding USS George Washington (CVN-73) at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka on Oct. 28, 2025. (Yonhap)
    This file photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi boarding USS George Washington (CVN-73) at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka on Oct. 28, 2025. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    This file photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi boarding USS George Washington (CVN-73) at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka on Oct. 28, 2025. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan (3rd from R) and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (2nd from L) attend talks on renewed trade tensions between the two countries at the Department of Commerce in Washington on Jan. 29, 2026, in this file photo provided by the South Korean ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan (3rd from R) and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (2nd from L) attend talks on renewed trade tensions between the two countries at the Department of Commerce in Washington on Jan. 29, 2026, in this file photo provided by the South Korean ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan (3rd from R) and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (2nd from L) attend talks on renewed trade tensions between the two countries at the Department of Commerce in Washington on Jan. 29, 2026, in this file photo provided by the South Korean ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan (3rd from R) and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (2nd from L) attend talks on renewed trade tensions between the two countries at the Department of Commerce in Washington on Jan. 29, 2026, in this file photo provided by the South Korean ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan (3rd from R) and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (2nd from L) attend talks on renewed trade tensions between the two countries at the Department of Commerce in Washington on Jan. 29, 2026, in this file photo provided by the South Korean ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan (3rd from R) and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (2nd from L) attend talks on renewed trade tensions between the two countries at the Department of Commerce in Washington on Jan. 29, 2026, in this file photo provided by the South Korean ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • This file photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi boarding USS George Washington (CVN-73) at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka on Oct. 28, 2025. (Yonhap)
    This file photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi boarding USS George Washington (CVN-73) at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka on Oct. 28, 2025. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    This file photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi boarding USS George Washington (CVN-73) at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka on Oct. 28, 2025. (Yonhap) Source Full size

Korean Delegation Arrives in Washington to Pitch Projects Vice Trade Minister Park Jung‑sung led a working‑level team to the U.S. capital on Feb 19, meeting Commerce Department officials to evaluate the commercial viability of prospective Korean investments in the United States [1]. The mission follows a Jan 29 discussion between Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, underscoring sustained bilateral trade dialogue [1]. Delegates will present project concepts and seek U.S. feedback on economic justification before formal commitments are made [1].

Committee Reviews Projects Under $350 Billion Trade Deal Commitment Korean committee began a preliminary review last week, targeting projects that satisfy the $350 billion investment pledge secured in the trade agreement finalized late 2025 [1]. Energy development and power‑infrastructure initiatives have been identified as priority sectors, reflecting U.S. strategic interests in those areas [1]. The review aims to align Korean proposals with the commercial rationality criteria set by U.S. officials [1].

Japan’s $550 Billion Deal Spurs U.S. Pressure on Seoul President Donald Trump announced three Japanese‑backed projects in Texas, Ohio and Georgia on Feb 17, marking the first tranche of Japan’s $550 billion commitment under its bilateral trade pact [2][3]. Trump warned that failure by South Korea to meet its own $350 billion pledge could trigger a rise in reciprocal tariffs from 15 % to 25 % on Korean goods [1][2][3]. The Japanese announcements intensified Washington’s urging for Seoul to accelerate its investment process [1].

Diplomatic Calendar Highlights Upcoming Japan‑Korea Interactions White House summit with Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is slated for next month, following the Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide victory [2][3]. The Korean delegation’s visit occurs amid this broader diplomatic push, aiming to demonstrate Seoul’s commitment ahead of the summit [1]. Continued high‑level talks are expected to shape the timing and scope of Korean projects under the trade agreement [1].

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Timeline

Aug 2025 – Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yoon‑beom announces a strategic metals partnership with the United States during a Korea‑U.S. summit, signing a memorandum with Lockheed Martin to invest about 140 billion won in a germanium‑producing facility in South Korea, signaling the start of deeper U.S.–Korea critical‑metal cooperation [7].

Dec 14, 2025 – Korea Zinc and the U.S. government agree to a joint ≈10 trillion‑won (US$6.8 billion) investment to build a critical‑metals refinery in the southeastern United States, with Washington contributing roughly 2 trillion won and a board meeting slated to finalize the plan after reviewing 60 candidate sites [7].

Dec 15, 2025 – U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick posts on X that the Korea Zinc refinery deal is a “big win,” emphasizing that the plant will produce gallium, germanium, indium, antimony, copper, silver, gold and zinc for defense, AI, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, and that the United States will have priority access to the output starting in 2026 [6].

Dec 24, 2025 – The Seoul Central District Court dismisses an injunction filed by Young Poong Corp. and MBK Partners, clearing the way for Korea Zinc to raise 2.85 trillion won via a third‑party allotment to a joint venture with the U.S. Department of War that will fund the Tennessee refinery project [5].

Jan 5‑6, 2026 – South Korean Land Minister Kim Yun‑duk and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly celebrate the Indiana low‑carbon ammonia plant, with Kim saying the project is possible through “policy financing” and Danly calling it “the first of many partnerships” that will supply 500,000 t of ammonia annually and capture 1.67 million t of CO₂ [4].

Jan 29, 2026 – Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan meets U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the Department of Commerce to discuss ongoing trade tensions and the implementation of the 2025 U.S.–Korea trade deal that includes a US$350 billion investment pledge [1].

Feb 17, 2026 – President Donald Trump uses Truth Social to unveil three Japan‑backed projects in Texas (oil & gas), Ohio (9.2‑GW gas‑power plant) and Georgia (critical‑minerals plant), declaring that “one very special word, TARIFFS” made the $36 billion investments possible and warning that South Korea faces a rise to 25 % reciprocal tariffs if it does not meet its own $350 billion pledge [2][3].

Feb 19, 2026 – South Korea dispatches a working‑level delegation led by Vice Trade Minister Park Jung‑sung to Washington to discuss Korean investment projects, as a newly formed committee begins reviewing proposals under the $350 billion pledge, focusing on energy and power infrastructure and responding to President Trump’s pressure after Japan’s $550 billion announcement [1].

Mar 2026 (planned) – The White House schedules a summit between President Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following the Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide parliamentary win, intended to cement the first tranche of Japan’s $550 billion U.S. investment commitments and to address Korea’s pending obligations [2][3].

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