Lee's diplomacy, Trump's ambition converged

On September 4, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung finished his first three months, or one quarter, in office.

- ROBERT J. FOUSER

He took office after six months of political turmoil that began with former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, subsequent impeachment, and an early presidential election.

President Lee has moved quickly to bring stability to the nation amid economic challenges and shifting geopolitical dynamics. The public has rewarded him with positive approval ratings.

One of Lee's biggest early challenges has been managing the relationship with the United States and its president, Donald Trump. This past April, shortly after beginning his second term, Trump began slapping tariffs on nations around the world, including a 25 percent tariff on imports from South Korea. This caused the US stock market to drop sharply, causing Trump to retreat to give nations time to negotiate trade deals with the US. On July 30, South Korea and the US reached an agreement that lowered US tariffs on Korean imports from 25 to 15 percent. In return, South Korea pledged $350 billion in US investments, including $150 billion in shipbuilding and $100 billion in liquefied natural gas.