▲ Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the ruling Democratic Party speaks during a press briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 1, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ Rep. Han Jeoung-ae (L) of the ruling Democratic Party enters a press briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 1, 2026. (Yonhap)

ruling party-US investment bill

Ruling party vows passage of U.S. investment bill by late Feb. or early March: lawmaker

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Democratic Party (DP) said Sunday it will make efforts for the National Assembly to pass a special bill on implementing South Korea's investment package for the United States by late this month or early March.

Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the DP, who chairs parliament's policy committee, said at a press briefing that the Assembly will work to process the legislation for a plenary vote during an extraordinary session scheduled from late this month through early March.

"We expect the bill could be processed in a plenary session between late February and early March, and we will do our best to meet that timeline," Han told reporters.

The DP introduced the special bill on investment in the U.S. in November last year to implement the trade deal reached at the summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The legislation calls for laying out the procedures required to carry out Seoul's investments in the U.S., including implementing a set of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and the establishment of a "strategic investment fund" for the US$350 billion package.

The progress of the bill has become an issue after Trump threatened to raise the reciprocal tariff for South Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent, citing what he claims to be a delay in Seoul's legislative procedures.

Trump's warning sent top Seoul officials rushing to reassure Washington that the investment plans will be carried out in line with the joint summit agreements.

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan cut short his trip to Canada last week and flew to Washington for talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to work out the matter.

After meeting Lutnick, Kim said the talks did not reach a conclusion, but he believes the meeting helped resolve "unnecessary misunderstandings."

Han expressed regret over Washington's reaction, saying that the U.S. should be well aware of the National Assembly procedures to process the bill.

"I wonder whether the U.S. administration might be creating an unnecessary conflict," she said. "The U.S. is aware of and has agreed to the fact that we need to go through our legislative process. ... It takes time."

Han said there will be no guarantee that the agreements will be honored if negotiations continue with the U.S. abruptly raising tariffs because the bill has not been processed quickly enough.

"This is extremely concerning," she said. "Shouldn't the U.S. respect the procedures of the counterpart country to ensure that the MOUs, concluded on the basis of mutual respect and understanding, are honored? ... I cannot help but say that this approach is deeply regrettable."

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