Government Puts Everything on the Line for Tariff Deal..."Expected to Propose a $100 Billion Investment Plan"

Investment plan centered on the four major conglomerates: Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor Company, LG

The Korean government is reportedly preparing to propose to the U.S. government a local investment plan by Korean companies exceeding $100 billion (₩137 trillion) in anticipation of tariff negotiations.

According to trade industry sources on the 24th, the Korean trade delegation had initially planned to present this investment plan—containing the stated amount—to the U.S. government at the 'Korea-U.S. High-Level 2+2 Trade Talks' originally scheduled for the 25th. However, the '2+2 Talks' were canceled due to an urgent scheduling matter involving U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant.

Previously, Japan, whose industrial and export structure is similar to Korea’s, had proposed an investment fund amounting to $550 billion (₩757 trillion), which led to a reduction of the anticipated mutual tariffs from 25% to 15%.

In preparation for the tariff negotiations, the Korean government gathered available investment amounts from domestic companies, focusing on the four major conglomerates—Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor Company, and LG. It has reportedly secured investment pledges totaling about $100 billion from these companies so far.

Although the investment amount is smaller compared to Japan's, industry insiders note that, given Japan's more than double the economic scale of Korea, this is still a significant sum.

Furthermore, since these are purely corporate investment plans, the proposed amount could increase if government funding is added.

The Korean government may also explore leveraging the Export-Import Bank of Korea, Korea Development Bank, Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, and Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) in addition to corporate investments.

Eunji Cha, Hankyung.com Reporter chachacha@hankyung.com