Acting President Han Duck-soo’s late-night phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on April 8 reportedly came at the request of the United States. During the conversation, Trump raised the possibility of a “package deal” that would encompass tariffs, defense cost-sharing and other trade-related issues.
In response, the South Korean government, under Han’s leadership, has begun preparing a coordinated strategy. Experts say the trade policy crafted during the remaining two months before the early presidential election could end up shaping S. Korea-U.S. relations throughout Trump’s four-year term.
Han has paid particular attention to a directive Trump issued immediately after the call, in which the U.S. president instructed the White House to prioritize allies such as S. Korea and Japan in upcoming trade negotiations. With tariffs rattling financial markets in the United States and inflationary pressures beginning to surface, the Trump administration is now seeking quick, visible achievements.
Analysts believe this urgency has prompted Washington to open early negotiations with countries less resistant to U.S. tariffs, including S. Korea. As the clock ticks, Seoul sees a greater opportunity to have its voice heard. The government is expected to strengthen its negotiating position by leveraging competitive industries such as shipbuilding, while showing some flexibility on defense cost-sharing to seek tariff relief in return.
“Tariff adjustments are our top priority,” a senior official from the prime minister’s office said. “We see tariffs as closely tied to broader economic issues, including shipbuilding, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and the trade balance. All of these must be considered together.”
According to government officials, Han brought up all three issues—shipbuilding, LNG and trade balance—during his call with Trump. Each area presents challenges for the United States, and South Korea is believed to hold the upper hand in all of them.
Shipbuilding, in particular, is viewed as a critical matter directly linked to U.S. national security. The U.S. Navy depends on maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) to sustain its fleet, but with the domestic shipbuilding industry in decline, the country currently lacks the capacity to manage MRO independently.
“Trump essentially believes that shipbuilding should be brought back to the United States,” one government official said. “But building the necessary industrial infrastructure could take decades. In the meantime, the U.S. is likely to turn to S. Korea’s shipbuilders or conduct MRO work in Korea.”
Trump’s mention of LNG is widely interpreted as a reference to development plans in Alaska. In line with that, Seoul is reportedly reviewing options to increase imports of U.S.-produced LNG as part of a broader trade package.
“S. Korea is the only mid-sized country capable of manufacturing supersonic fighter jets, holds a competitive edge in core industries like semiconductors, and has the purchasing power to buy American goods and services,” the senior official noted.
“Rather than responding to Washington’s trade policies with confrontation, we should engage in talks using our competitive strengths as leverage.” The government believes S. Korea’s cooperative stance offers a contrast to other allies that have taken a more combative approach toward the United States.
Officials also shared some background on how the Han-Trump phone call came together. Seoul had first proposed a call on March 24, when Han resumed his role, but the U.S. did not respond at the time. The call was finally arranged at Washington’s request on April 8.
Officials believe the United States began recognizing Han as S. Korea’s de facto leader following the Constitutional Court’s final ruling on the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. They also speculate that the Trump administration sought to signal its intention to begin one-on-one negotiations with major trade partners ahead of the rollout of reciprocal tariff measures.
