▲ Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan speaks to the press at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., on Jan. 28, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) industry minister-Lutnick

(LEAD) 1st day of talks between industry minister, Lutnick ends without tariff agreement

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES with new info in paras 2-4)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Thursday that he and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick concluded the first day of their talks over renewed tariff tension between the two countries without an agreement but they agreed to meet again the next day.

Kim and Lutnick held the meeting in Washington, three days after Trump threatened to increase reciprocal tariffs and auto, lumber and pharmaceutical duties on South Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent, citing a delay in Seoul's legislative procedures supporting the implementation of the trade deal.

"We had extensive talks and agreed to meet again tomorrow morning," Kim told reporters after the meeting.

"We have not yet reached a conclusion," he added.

Asked if he succeeded in preventing the Trump administration from raising tariffs on South Korea, he said, "(We were) not at the point of saying whether it was prevented or not prevented."

He was expected to stress Seoul's commitment to fulfilling its investment pledge under a bilateral trade deal that was first struck in late July and finalized months later.

Under the deal, South Korea has committed to investing US$350 billion in the United States, among other pledges, in return for the U.S.' lowering of reciprocal tariffs on South Korea.

During his stay in Washington, Kim also plans to meet other senior Trump administration officials, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

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