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BumRushDaShow

(160,911 posts)
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 04:14 PM Sep 22

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 Trump’s 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 Korea’s 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/

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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South Korean president says his country can't afford Trump's demands (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Sep 22 OP
tRump thinks of himself as a master negotiator. (Dunning-Kruger again) . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Sep 22 #1
Dunning-Kruger markodochartaigh Sep 22 #4
Honestly- he's such a dumbass mdbl Sep 22 #12
He can't make money w/o breaking laws on race/finance/poli. When he keeps to laws he kills casinos, airlines, steak cos. Bernardo de La Paz Sep 22 #13
South Korea would be better off without us angrychair Sep 22 #2
We still have about 29000 military personnel there. ClaudetteCC Sep 22 #5
That'll be TSF's next threat if South Korea refuses this current demand. Prof. Toru Tanaka Tuesday #20
"I do not believe this was intentional" Oh, it was intentional, the fascist regime has intention in everything they do ImNotGod Sep 22 #3
I'm certain President Lee Jae Myung is giving tRump a chance to save face. groundloop Sep 22 #6
Trump is giving a clinic on how to destroy the American economy iemanja Sep 22 #7
South Korea hasn't learned how to deal with Trump. Midnight Writer Sep 22 #8
But as long as Miller is in there BumRushDaShow Sep 22 #10
Don't forget that he stopped the Cambodia-Armenia War OrwellwasRight Tuesday #21
Trump is an extornist and.... Puppyjive Sep 22 #9
South Korea is saying no to the shakedown dlk Sep 22 #11
And all this started because some "concerned" repuke Karen in Georgia running for office Javaman Sep 22 #14
Screw America! BidenRocks Sep 22 #15
It would appear popsdenver Sep 22 #18
He's not into shakedowns wolfie001 Sep 22 #16
How could it possibly not be intentional? Mblaze Sep 22 #17
Neither can we. nt eppur_se_muova Sep 22 #19
After Trump's goon squad arrested hundreds of Koreans at their factory in Georgia DFW Tuesday #22

mdbl

(7,459 posts)
12. Honestly- he's such a dumbass
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 06:48 PM
Sep 22

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)
13. He can't make money w/o breaking laws on race/finance/poli. When he keeps to laws he kills casinos, airlines, steak cos.
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 06:51 PM
Sep 22

angrychair

(11,177 posts)
2. South Korea would be better off without us
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 04:22 PM
Sep 22
“I do not believe this was intentional, and the U.S


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?

ImNotGod

(1,163 posts)
3. "I do not believe this was intentional" Oh, it was intentional, the fascist regime has intention in everything they do
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 04:31 PM
Sep 22

and that intention is to destroy democracy here and abroad.

groundloop

(13,318 posts)
6. I'm certain President Lee Jae Myung is giving tRump a chance to save face.
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 04:46 PM
Sep 22

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.

Midnight Writer

(24,782 posts)
8. South Korea hasn't learned how to deal with Trump.
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 04:52 PM
Sep 22

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)
10. But as long as Miller is in there
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 05:20 PM
Sep 22

the white supremacy angle will continue to bubble up and inform future actions.

OrwellwasRight

(5,267 posts)
21. Don't forget that he stopped the Cambodia-Armenia War
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 06:28 AM
Tuesday

That war promised to be devastating if not for the President’s brave actions.

Puppyjive

(851 posts)
9. Trump is an extornist and....
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 04:59 PM
Sep 22

an insider trader. I hope he gets imprisoned someday. He doesn't even try to hide it.

Javaman

(64,556 posts)
14. And all this started because some "concerned" repuke Karen in Georgia running for office
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 06:58 PM
Sep 22

Wanted to gain favor with the orange asshole by reporting the Korean trainers a “illegal” and “over worked”

BidenRocks

(2,277 posts)
15. Screw America!
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 07:02 PM
Sep 22

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)
18. It would appear
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 07:13 PM
Sep 22

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.......

Mblaze

(786 posts)
17. How could it possibly not be intentional?
Mon Sep 22, 2025, 07:06 PM
Sep 22

The US may have apologized but it was intentional.

The Trump Administration. Ready - Fire - Aim.

DFW

(59,025 posts)
22. After Trump's goon squad arrested hundreds of Koreans at their factory in Georgia
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 06:59 AM
Tuesday

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.

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