The Minute to Read (Weekdays) series provides a quick overview of significant events in Korea everyday, conveniently condensed into a one-minute read. Here’s a recap of what happened yesterday: March 17.
US designates South Korea as ‘sensitive’ country
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed on March 15 that it designated South Korea on the lowest tier of the “Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List (SCL)” in January. Korea is the only longstanding U.S. ally that was added to the list. The SCL consists of nations deemed potential security threats or politically unstable, and this designation could restrict Korea’s cooperation with the U.S. in areas such as military intelligence, nuclear energy, and artificial intelligence. The DOE did not disclose specific reasons for the designation, which takes effect on April 15. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern and vowed to negotiate with the U.S. to mitigate any negative impact on bilateral cooperation. The ministry was unaware of the designation until it was reported by local media.
Samsung chief urges ‘do-or-die’ approach to tackle crisis
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong warned executives that the company has “lost its edge” and must adopt a “do-or-die” mindset to overcome challenges, according to industry sources. His message was conveyed at a seminar in Yongin, which has been running since late February for roughly 2,000 Samsung executives. A video shown at the seminar featured the business philosophies of Samsung’s late founder Lee Byung-chul and former Chairman Lee Kun-hee, as well as remarks from Lee Jae-yong. “Samsung’s survival is at stake,” Lee said in the message. “We must prioritize long-term investment over short-term gains.” Executives received a crystal plaque engraved with a motivational phrase reinforcing resilience and competition.
Kia plans to ramp up U.S. production as Trump pushes auto tariffs
Korean automaker Kia plans to expand U.S. manufacturing as President Donald Trump signals the possibility of new auto tariffs. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Kia America COO Steven Center emphasized that the company is prioritizing producing vehicles in the U.S. Of the 63,303 vehicles Kia sold in the U.S. in February, 24,942—roughly 39.4%—were made in the U.S. The rest were imported, with 42.2% coming from South Korea and 18.4% from Mexico. Kia operates a plant in West Point, Georgia, and plans to expand production at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County, Georgia. Center noted Kia has been preparing for potential tariffs, holding strategy meetings to mitigate risks.
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