Trump year pressures economy / KBS 2026.01.20.

Описание: [Anchor]

Trump’s first year has also forced changes on our economy.

Even amid the tariff war, exports held up by setting a record high, but Trump-style unilateralism and uncertainty continue to weigh heavily.

Reporter Jung Jae-woo has the story.

[Report]

[Donald Trump/U.S. President/Mar. 2025: "We're going to charge countries for doing business in our country and taking our jobs, taking our wealth, taking a lot of things they've been taking over the years."]

The bill Trump presented placed heavy pressure on the Korean economy.

As tariffs were used as a weapon to block access to the U.S. market, export industries were plunged into uncertainty, and automobile exports to the U.S. posted declines for eight consecutive months.

Entering one-on-one negotiations, the Korean government agreed to a deal to lower tariffs by pledging shipbuilding cooperation projects and 200 billion dollars in cash investment.

The fact that the state must step in to protect key industries shows a changing global trade order.

[Chung Eui-sun/Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group/Oct. 2025: "Government officials have helped us so much that I owe you a great debt. Thank you."]

[President Lee Jae Myung: "When Hyundai Motor does well, the Republic of Korea does well."]

Despite these headwinds, Korea’s exports last year surpassed 700 billion dollars, marking an all-time high.

However, semiconductor tariffs remain only a principle-level promise with nothing finalized, and—as seen with the Greenland tariffs—there is persistent anxiety that U.S. demands will not subside.

[Rhee Chang-yong/Governor of the Bank of Korea/Jan. 2: "It is difficult to say that uncertainty has been resolved even regarding the investment agreement with the United States. Further coordination is still needed on specific investment targets and methods."]

Concerns are also growing that the United States is pressuring for more on-site investment, which could lead to reduced domestic investment and employment.

Added to this is the issue of polarization, with greater reliance on large export-driven conglomerates—another challenge left by Trump’s first year.

This is KBS News, Jung Jae-woo.

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