Kang Kyung-wha says Seoul, Washington agree to keep Coupang dispute from straining ties

South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha said Wednesday that the two governments share a common understanding that the Coupang Inc. dispute — a source of friction affecting diplomatic and trade relations — should be managed carefully so it does not weigh on the broader bilateral relationship.

"There is a consensus between the two governments that we should manage these issues in a stable manner so they do not become a burden on the South Korea-US relationship," Kang said at a press briefing for Korean correspondents held at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. She added that Seoul would "clearly and consistently convey the South Korean government's position through continued consultations with the US side."

The embassy said it had explained the South Korean government's position and submitted relevant materials while the US House Judiciary Committee was preparing a report on Coupang Inc. Despite those efforts, the final report stated that the South Korean government had been discriminatorily targeting Coupang Inc. Seoul views the report as reflecting only Coupang Inc.'s one-sided claims and plans to prepare a rebuttal addressing factual inaccuracies for delivery to the US side.

Kang also addressed security agreements between the two countries, including those covering nuclear energy and nuclear-powered submarines, saying that "communications are currently under way to coordinate the schedule for the next round of consultations." She said Seoul would "pursue frequent contact with the United States in various formats in order to accelerate sector-by-sector consultations going forward."

The two sides held their first meeting in Seoul in early June, formally beginning detailed discussions on the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines and uranium enrichment. The shipbuilding sector was not discussed at that session, as the US side needed more preparation. Seoul now plans to seek progress on that front — including the launch of a shipbuilding working group — based on consultations between South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the US Department of Commerce.

On the Donald Trump administration's Section 301 tariff investigation, Kang said Seoul has been emphasizing that "the balance of interests between the two countries should be maintained in accordance with the existing South Korea-US tariff agreement," and that "the US side has been expressing its intention to honor the agreement."

On the Korean Peninsula, Kang said that despite some expectations that the recent US-China summit might open the door to a resumption of US-North Korea talks, "there has been no concrete progress." She added that Seoul is also closely watching whether North Korea will attend the ASEAN-related foreign ministers' meetings at the end of this month and what message it may send.