▲ Government officials and lawmakers attend the first meeting of the parliamentary special committee to fast-track legislation on South Korea's $350 billion investment pledge to the United States at the National Assembly, in this file photo taken on Feb. 12, 2026. (Yonhap)

parliamentary committee-US investment

National Assembly to process U.S. investment bill as planned: lawmakers

SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Yonhap) -- Rival parties confirmed Saturday proceeding with remaining procedures to process the legislation on South Korea's investment pledges to the United States as planned, regardless of the recent ruling on President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs.

"(The ruling) does not seem to constitute a requirement that can cancel South Korea's investments to the United States," said Rep. Kim Sang-hoon of the opposition People Power Party (PPP), who also heads a special committee on the legislation.

"We plan to carry out the hearing as planned and check the government's position" on the ruling, he added.

Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party (DP) also expressed intent to push forward with the legislation as scheduled, saying the agreement with Washington is still intact.

"No changes in schedule are expected on processing the special bill on South Korea's investment pledges to the U.S.," a key official from the DP said in a call with Yonhap News Agency. "We plan to calmly review the legislation"

The minor Jinbo Party, in contrast, called for an immediate halt to all procedures to process the investment bill.

Earlier this month, the National Assembly passed a resolution to form a parliamentary special committee to fast-track legislation on South Korea's $350 billion investment pledge to the U.S., following a trade deal reached between Seoul and Washington.

The move came after President Trump threatened to raise tariffs against South Korea back to 25 percent from the 15 percent level agreed earlier, citing delays in Seoul's legislature.

The committee opened its first meeting on Feb. 12 but was halted shortly after, as rival parties clashed over unrelated judicial reform bills approved a day earlier.

A hearing on the legislation is scheduled for next Tuesday. Rival parties plan to process the bill at a plenary session on March 5. The special committee will remain active until March 9.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]