South Korean government and companies are increasingly focusing on establishing connections with influential figures amid the tariff war led by U.S. President Donald Trump. With shipbuilding, nuclear power, energy, and defense emerging as key sectors for U.S.-South Korea cooperation, demand for outreach to the U.S. has surged. As a result, Washington’s K Street, home to major law and consulting firms, has become a busy hub for South Korean interests. Recognizing South Korea as a major player, some firms are expanding beyond dedicated Korean teams, entering the Korean market directly, or hiring former officials familiar with the country to enhance their efforts.
According to a Chosun Ilbo report on March 9, Washington-based consulting firm The Asia Group (TAG) has opened a Seoul office, appointing a former journalist as its director and hiring staff. TAG was founded in 2013 by Kurt Campbell, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Indo-Pacific coordinator for the Biden administration. The firm already has offices in over 10 cities across Asia, including Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Hanoi, and has now officially entered the South Korean market. Campbell returned to TAG as chairman on Feb. 25, just a month after leaving government. He has extensive experience handling South Korea-related matters at the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense. Last December, he made headlines when he criticized South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, saying he had “badly misjudged” his declaration of martial law. Daniel Kritenbrink, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and an expert on Korea, has joined TAG as a partner. A diplomatic source said, “There had been speculation about TAG’s move into Korea, and now, with Campbell’s return, the firm is fully focused on the market.” Last month, Campbell also attended the Trans-Pacific Dialogue (TPD) in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies.
Henry Haggard, former Director of Energy at the U.S. Department of State, joined WestExec Advisors last year as a senior advisor. WestExec, founded in 2017 by former Secretary of State Tony Blinken and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy, advises Korean companies in various sectors, including display technology. Haggard, a career diplomat, has served in South Korea three times, holding key roles such as Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. Former U.S. Forces Korea Commander Vincent Brooks and former U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris, who served from 2018 to 2021, are also affiliated with WestExec and Beacon Global Strategies (BSG), respectively, focusing on defense and security consulting.
As the recognition grows that “South Korea is a lucrative market,” some firms are pursuing partnerships to expand their reach. Ballard Partners, one of the most influential lobbying firms on K Street, formed a strategic partnership with South Korea’s GR Company ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The firm emphasized that it aims to leverage the combined expertise and influence of leading lobbying firms to create new opportunities in both the U.S. and Korea, offering services like legislative advocacy, regulatory affairs, public opinion shaping, and crisis management. Florida-based Ballard Partners also serves the Japanese government. Watchtower Strategies, co-founded earlier this year by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and prominent conservative lobbyist Jeff Miller, is reportedly in talks with South Korean companies. McCarthy is a key figure frequently sought by high-ranking South Korean officials visiting Washington.
In addition to shipbuilding and defense, many South Korean public institutions are also considering establishing a presence in Washington to strengthen ties with the U.S., suggesting that K Street’s interest in Korean clients will continue for the foreseeable future. However, there are growing concerns about unverified brokers. Some intermediaries, with little credibility, have reportedly approached South Korean companies, offering to arrange meetings with high-ranking U.S. officials, including the Secretaries of Commerce and Treasury, as well as President Trump himself, for exorbitant fees. One consulting executive warned, “Lobbying firms often take on clients but provide lackluster services unless they see them as long-term revenue sources, such as embassies or major corporations.”
Meanwhile, Covington & Burling, a multinational law firm with an office in Seoul, has had to halt its normal lobbying activities after Trump issued an executive order last month, accusing the firm of involvement in what he called the Biden administration’s “weaponization of government.”
