(LEAD) PM says S. Korea, U.S. making progress on tariff issue

▲ Prime Minister Kim Min-seok holds a press conference at his official residence in Seoul on Feb. 2, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ Prime Minister Kim Min-seok holds a press conference at his official residence in Seoul on Feb. 2, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) PM-press conference

(LEAD) PM says S. Korea, U.S. making progress on tariff issue

(ATTN: UPDATES with more remarks by Kim; ADDS photo)

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Monday that South Korea and the United States are making progress on tariff-related issues, thanks in part to the direct phone line he established with U.S. Vice President JD Vance last month.

Kim made the remark during a press conference amid controversy over the government's lack of preparedness for U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threat to raise back tariffs on South Korea from 15 percent to 25 percent.

The prime minister, in particular, has been criticized by some as Trump's surprise announcement came last week, a day after Kim returned from Washington after meeting and establishing a direct "hotline" with Vance.

"I assess that we did well to open the hotline immediately before that situation arose," the prime minister told reporters at his official residence.

"It's not just the hotline that's in operation, but various existing channels of contact, including the hotline with Vice President Vance, were all put into operation, and through a process of learning each other's true intentions, it is progressing into what we see now."

Since Trump's announcement on social media, top South Korean trade officials have been rushed to Washington to meet with their counterparts and resolve uncertainties surrounding the tariff issue.

Trump has also said the U.S. "will work something out with South Korea."

The prime minister refused to accept criticism that the episode was a case of the government's diplomatic failure, saying that officials here believe "most people" within the U.S. government, with the exception of a few people, such as U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, were also unaware of Trump's announcement in advance.

"This issue was about President Trump's unique messaging method," he said.

Kim also refuted news reports that Trump's threat was related to Vance's mention of South Korea's investigation into a massive data breach at U.S.-listed e-commerce giant Coupang Inc.

"That interpretation is completely different from the truth," he said. "I don't know if that was Coupang's intention, but it's different from the U.S. government's verified intention."

Any legal issues arising from the data breach will be handled in accordance with South Korean laws, and the two countries "exchanged opinions" on communicating fully to prevent the case from escalating into an unnecessary trade dispute, he added.

Kim fielded a wide range of questions, including on judiciary reforms, domestic politics and local government merger plans.

On President Lee Jae Myung's recent emphasis on stabilizing the housing market, Kim said the administration will "keep its word" and pursue its real estate policies with consistency.

On the contentious issue of whether to give supplementary investigative powers to a new agency that will replace the prosecution service, he said his personal wish is that the main sticking points will be resolved before June.

The so-called indictment agency will be one of two bodies that will be launched to address longstanding criticism that the prosecution has abused its exclusive powers by carrying out politically motivated investigations.

(END)

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