Korea Zinc has emerged as a major player in Washington’s lobbying scene, as the South Korean metals firm steps up efforts to navigate growing geopolitical risks and a management battle with MBK Partners.
The company’s $500,000 contract with Mercury Public Affairs (MPA) in the first quarter of 2025 ranks as the ninth-largest single lobbying deal registered under the U.S. Lobbying Disclosure Act for the period.
MPA, a politically connected firm with ties to key Trump administration figures including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, has seen rapid expansion since Trump’s return to office. The firm secured $5.2 million in contracts in the first quarter alone.
Korea Zinc first retained MPA in February 2024 and has renewed the agreement five times, with the latest deal doubling the previous quarterly payment of $250,000.
MPA’s filings say the firm is advising Korea Zinc on issues related to “critical minerals, recycling, and clean energy subsidies.” Key lobbyists on the account include Cheri Bustos, a former Democratic congresswoman, and David Vitter, a former Republican senator and representative.
Only eight other companies signed larger lobbying deals during the quarter, including Nippon Steel, which is seeking to acquire U.S. Steel ($1.7 million), and chipmaker Qualcomm ($680,000), according to congressional records.
Korea Zinc’s U.S. subsidiary, Pedalpoint Holdings, also brought on a new lobbying firm, Impression Strategy, in March under a $40,000 contract. Among its lobbyists is Brad Stewart, a longtime Capitol Hill aide who previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Zach Nunn and is known for his ties to Trump’s political circle.
The company’s growing Washington presence comes amid renewed U.S.-China trade tensions under President Trump, with critical minerals at the center of the escalating competition. Korea is seen as a key partner in Washington’s efforts to secure supply chains for these resources.
In July 2024, South Korea assumed the one-year chairmanship of the U.S.-led Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), an initiative aimed at countering China’s dominance in the global critical minerals market.
