South Korean president says his country can't afford Trump's demands
Source: The Hill
09/22/25 9:29 AM ET
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in an interview with Reuters that his country cannot afford to meet President Trumps demands that it invest $350 billion into America in exchange for the removal of punishing tariffs.
Without a currency swap, if we were to withdraw $350 billion in the manner that the U.S. is demanding and to invest this all in cash in the U.S., South Korea would face a situation as it had in the 1997 financial crisis, Lee told Reuters through a translator, explaining the demands would plunge the country into a financial crisis.
Reaching detailed agreements that guarantee commercial reasonableness is now the central task yet it also remains the biggest obstacle, Lee said. Trump said Koreas investment projects would be selected by him, and the country would have discretion on how their money would be used.
Lee also said many in his country were angered by the harsh treatment workers at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia faced during a recent immigration raid, warning it could make other companies wary of making in investments in the United States. I do not believe this was intentional, and the U.S. has apologized for this incident, and we have agreed to seek reasonable measures in this regard and we are working on them, he said in the interview.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5515351-lee-jaemyung-on-trump-tariffs-investment/

Bernardo de La Paz
(58,961 posts)markodochartaigh
(4,181 posts)Stunning-Cuckoo
mdbl
(7,459 posts)and the worst businessman. It would be comical if we didn't live in a country where a bunch of idiots thought it a good idea to put a convicted felon prone to bankruptcy in the white house.
Bernardo de La Paz
(58,961 posts)angrychair
(11,177 posts)Sorry, that statement is factually incorrect. You don't arrest hundreds of people by accident.
Incompetence, yes.
Not an accident.
I would never do business with the US again. Even if Democrats get in for four or even eight years, who is to say that the next person isn't a Republican more crazy than Mango Mussolini?
ClaudetteCC
(114 posts)Prof. Toru Tanaka
(2,803 posts)ImNotGod
(1,163 posts)and that intention is to destroy democracy here and abroad.
groundloop
(13,318 posts)I'm equally certain he'd really love to say the tRump is a bumbling crooked idiot, but being someone who is actually good at diplomacy knows how to bite his tongue.
iemanja
(56,822 posts)as fast as possible.
Midnight Writer
(24,782 posts)They just need to "make a deal" with the guy, then do nothing further. Maybe buy some of his crypto coins.
Trump just wants to announce a deal. He doesn't care if it is carried out or not.
It is all smoke and mirrors with Trump. Appearances are everything. He wants the appearance of a strong leader making other countries bend to his will. Reality is no longer a factor in MAGA policies.
Example: Trump just stopped seven wars. Ooops! Update. Now he claims he stopped ten wars. Though he can't name them.
He doesn't care about wars or peace. He just wants adulation, even if it is all built on lies.
BumRushDaShow
(160,911 posts)the white supremacy angle will continue to bubble up and inform future actions.
OrwellwasRight
(5,267 posts)That war promised to be devastating if not for the Presidents brave actions.
Puppyjive
(851 posts)an insider trader. I hope he gets imprisoned someday. He doesn't even try to hide it.
dlk
(12,972 posts)Perhaps others will find the courage, as well.
Javaman
(64,556 posts)Wanted to gain favor with the orange asshole by reporting the Korean trainers a illegal and over worked
BidenRocks
(2,277 posts)We are not ourselves right now so cancel all your investments made under duress and extortion!
We don't deserve nice friends.
popsdenver
(556 posts)that Canada, Mexico, and European NATO countries are already finding ways to cut the Trump Republicans out of the equation........
And corporations, who put Trump in office, are already feeling it......
Call the Waaaambulance.......
wolfie001
(6,235 posts)What a repulsive fat orange imbecile. Quite extraordinary.
Mblaze
(786 posts)The US may have apologized but it was intentional.
The Trump Administration. Ready - Fire - Aim.
eppur_se_muova
(40,139 posts)DFW
(59,025 posts)I see more of a reason for South Korea to divest rather than invest.
If investing in America is only going to get their nationals arrested, humiliated and charged as criminals, I see no reason why Korea would consider investing $3.50, much less $350 billion.