Korea's chief trade negotiator sacked amid growing US tariff pressure

Korea's chief trade negotiator, Yeo Han-koo, has been removed from his position, officials announced on Saturday. The Ministry of Personnel Management informed him of his dismissal on Friday, though the official stated that the reason for the decision was not elaborated upon. This move comes at a critical juncture for bilateral trade relations between the two nations, as Seoul faces mounting pressure from the United States to expedite its investment commitments under a bilateral tariff agreement and resolve a dispute involving fines against e-commerce giant Coupang for a personal data breach.

Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation imposing additional tariffs on drones and their components, including a 15 percent levy on imports from Korea. Yeo Han-koo had previously served as the country's trade minister under the Moon Jae-in administration before being reappointed following the inauguration of the Lee Jae Myung administration in May 2025. Since his return to the post, he has played a pivotal role in trade negotiations.