New South Korean president and Trump agree to resolve tariff issue in their first conversation

Seoul.- The new South Korean president, Lee Jae-myung, held a phone conversation this Friday night with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, in which they agreed to resolve tariff talks, in their first phone meeting since Lee took office.

During the conversation, which lasted about 20 minutes, Trump congratulated Lee on his election victory, while Lee emphasized that the alliance between South Korea and the United States remains the basis of Seoul’s foreign policy, according to South Korean presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, in a statement.

“Both leaders agreed to work to quickly reach a mutually satisfactory agreement” on the tariff negotiations between South Korea and the United States, the presidential office said, adding that “to that end, they agreed to promote a tangible outcome in the working-level talks.”

Electoral victory with a wide margin

Lee’s first conversation with Trump took place two days after his inauguration, ending months of political and diplomatic uncertainty following the dismissal of Yoon Suk-yeol after his failed imposition of martial law.

Lee assumed the presidency of South Korea at 6:21 local time (21:21 GMT Tuesday) after the confirmation of his victory at the polls by the electoral body in a plenary session.

You may be interested in: Lee Jae-myung assumes South Korean presidency and promises to govern “for all”

Belonging to the until now opposition Democratic Party (PD), the liberal Lee assumes office immediately, without the usual transition period, after early elections due to the dismissal of former President Yoon Suk-yeol for his failed attempt to establish martial law in the country at the end of last year.

Lee won the South Korean presidential election with 49.42% of the votes, against 41.15% obtained by his main contender, Kim Moon-soo, from the conservative People Power Party (PPP) and political heir of Yoon.