Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun will visit Washington on July 30 to back South Korea's final-stage trade negotiations with the US, joining Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hanwha Vice Chair Dong-kwan (DK) Kim in lobbying efforts. The talks aim to reduce the 25% US import tariff on cars, a key issue for Korean automakers seeking to maintain price competitiveness.
According to Yonhap News Agency and Mt.co.kr, Chung will be the third senior South Korean executive to support the tariff talks. Hanwha's DK Kim arrived in the US on July 28 to promote the 'Make American Shipbuilding Great Again' (MASGA) initiative, while Samsung's Lee Jae-yong followed on July 29, reportedly to discuss expanded semiconductor investments and AI chip cooperation.
Chung is expected to press for a lower US auto tariff, with analysts noting that Japan - South Korea's top rival in the US car market - has already secured a 15% rate. Failure to match or beat that threshold could put Korean carmakers at a pricing disadvantage.
In March 2025, Chung met with Donald Trump and announced a US$21 billion US investment package, including expanded auto production in Georgia and a new steel plant in Louisiana - part of a broader push to solidify political and economic ties with Washington.
With the leader of the world's third-largest automaker joining the push, observers say South Korea's trade delegation could gain momentum heading into the final stretch of tariff negotiations.
Article edited by Joseph Tsai
