The importance of the economic relationship between the U.S. and South Korea was cast into sharp relief last week. South Korea's Acting President Han Duck-soo was among the first world leaders to call President Trump and begin trade-rebalancing negotiations to avoid steep new U.S. tariffs.

Despite the political turbulence in both countries — the U.S. is attempting to remake the global trading order and South Korea removed its president from office early this month — the economic bond between the U.S. and South Korea remains resilient and is even poised for growth. This enduring partnership is underpinned by Korean companies’ multi-billion-dollar investments and job creation across various sectors, as well as by U.S. investment in South Korea.

Korean companies have long been integral to the U.S. economy. Since the Hyundai Motor Group hybrid and electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Georgia was announced in May 2022, the automaker’s planned investment in the state has reached more than $12.6 billion, bringing with it the creation of 12,000 direct, long-term jobs.

Hyundai also made a groundbreaking decision in March to invest $5.8 billion in a steel production plant in

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