Seoul, South Korea – When Sideny Sim had an opportunity to go to the US on enterprise a number of years in the past, it was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.
Like many South Koreans, Sim had lengthy admired the US as a cultural juggernaut and optimistic power on the planet.
Today, Sim, a 38-year-old engineer residing close to Seoul, feels no such love in direction of the nation.
As US President Donald Trump threatens to impose a 25 % tariff on South Korea from August 1, Sim can’t assist however really feel betrayed.
“In the event that they was once a rustic that was recognized to be a frontrunner in tradition, the economic system and the notion of being ‘good,’ I really feel just like the US is now a menace to geopolitical stability,” Sim instructed Al Jazeera.
South Korea and the US share deep and enduring ties.
South Korea is one among Washington’s closest allies in Asia, internet hosting about 28,000 US troops as a bulwark in opposition to North Korea.
The US is residence to a bigger South Korean diaspora than another nation.
However with the return of Trump’s “America First” agenda to Washington, DC, these ties are coming below pressure.
In a Pew Analysis Heart survey launched earlier this month, 61 % of South Koreans expressed a beneficial view of the US, down from 77 % in 2024.
Like dozens of different US buying and selling companions, South Korea is going through extreme financial disruption if it can’t attain a commerce cope with the Trump administration by the August deadline.
The Asian nation, which is a significant producer of electronics, ships and vehicles, generates greater than 40 % of its gross home product (GDP) from exports.
Along with sending a letter to South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung outlining his tariff threats, Trump earlier this month additionally claimed that Seoul pays “little or no” to help the presence of US Forces Korea (USFK).
Trump’s feedback strengthened hypothesis that he might demand that the South Korean authorities enhance its nationwide defence spending or contributions to the prices of the USFK.
After Trump final week instructed reporters that South Korea “desires to make a deal proper now,” Seoul’s high commerce envoy mentioned that an “in-principle” settlement was potential by the deadline.
With the clock ticking on a deal, the uncertainty created by Trump’s commerce insurance policies has stirred resentment amongst many South Koreans.
Kim Hyunju, a customer support agent working in Seoul, mentioned that though her firm wouldn’t be straight affected by the tariffs, Trump’s commerce salvoes didn’t appear truthful.
“It might solely be truthful if they’re OK with us elevating our tariffs to the identical stage as effectively,” Kim instructed Al Jazeera, including that the Trump administration’s actions had brought on her to really feel animosity in direction of the US.
“I can’t assist however see the US as a robust nation which fulfils its pursuits with cash and sheer energy performs,” Kim mentioned.
“I’ve at all times considered the US as a pleasant ally that’s particular to us, particularly by way of nationwide defence. I do know it’s good for us to keep up this pleasant standing, however I form of misplaced religion when Trump additionally demanded a bigger sum of money for the US army presence in our nation.”
Kim Chang-chul, an funding strategist in Seoul, expressed a extra sanguine view of Trump’s commerce insurance policies, even whereas acknowledging the hurt they may do to South Korean companies.
“The US tariff coverage is a burden for our authorities and companies, however the transfer actually reveals the depth of US decision-making and technique,” Kim instructed Al Jazeera.
“Trump desires South Korea to be extra concerned within the US’s vitality ambitions in Alaska. It’s a part of the US pushing for geopolitical realignment and financial rebalancing.”
Earlier this 12 months, the US held talks with South Korean officers about boosting US exports of liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) to South Korea, a significant LNG importer.
Keum Hye-yoon, a researcher on the Korea Institute for Worldwide Financial Coverage (KIEP), mentioned it has been troublesome for a US ally like South Korea to make sense of Trump’s feedback and actions.
“When Trump cites ‘equity’ in his tariff coverage, it’s based mostly on unilateral expectations of bettering the US commerce stability or restoring financial energy to sure industries,” Keum instructed Al Jazeera.
“As allies like South Korea share provide chains with the US and work carefully with its firms, disregarding these buildings and imposing excessive taxes will doubtless create burdens on US companies and shoppers as effectively.”
Whereas Trump’s most extreme tariffs have but to return into impact, South Korean producers have already reported some disruption.
South Korea’s exports dropped 2.2 % within the first 20 days of July in contrast with a 12 months earlier, in line with preliminary information launched by Korea Customs Service on Monday.
Kim Sung-hyeok, the top of analysis on the Korean Confederation of Commerce Unions (KCTU) Labour Institute, mentioned exporters within the auto, metal, semiconductor and pharmaceutical sectors had been particularly affected.
“As exports in these fields decreased significantly for the reason that tariff bulletins, manufacturing orders in home factories have declined,” Kim instructed Al Jazeera.
“Some automotive and metal manufacturing strains have closed briefly, whereas different manufacturing websites have closed altogether. Voluntary resignations and redeployments have change into rampant in a few of these workplaces.”
Kim mentioned small firms might face the brunt of the tariffs as they aren’t able to “shifting their manufacturing crops to the US”, or “diversifying their commerce avenues outdoors of the US”.
“And as main firms face a common decline in exports, these small firms will consequently face a scarcity in product supply quantity that may trigger employment disputes,” he mentioned.
The Korea Growth Institute estimated in Might that the variety of employed South Koreans would enhance by simply 90,000 this 12 months, partly because of the financial uncertainties, in contrast with an increase of 160,000 final 12 months.
Even earlier than Trump’s arrival on the political scene, US-South Korea relations had gone by means of troublesome durations up to now.
In 2002, two South Korean middle-school women had been killed once they had been struck by a US Military armoured automobile.
After the American troopers concerned within the incident had been discovered not responsible of negligent murder by a US army court docket, the nation noticed an explosion in anti-US sentiment and nationwide protests.
In 2008, nationwide protests befell after the South Korean authorities determined to proceed importing US beef regardless of issues concerning the danger of Mad Cow Illness.
Extra just lately, President Lee, who was elected in June, has emphasised the significance of sustaining optimistic relations with China, Washington’s largest strategic rival and competitor.
The KIEP’s Keum mentioned the US-South Korea relationship has advanced right into a partnership the place the US has change into a “conditional ally”, the place “financial pursuits take priority over conventional alliance”.
“The US is more and more demanding South Korea to cooperate in its containment technique of China amongst its different socioeconomic insurance policies,” she mentioned.
Keum mentioned that South Korea might want to search out different markets and diversify its exports to mitigate the fallout of Trump’s agenda.
“South Korea additionally doesn’t must act alone. The nation can search joint motion with nations akin to EU members, Japan and Canada to give you joint responses to the present predicament,” she mentioned.