Koreans Fight Back and Stand United: 80% Koreans Reject Trump’s Tariff Threat.
Trump’s threat sparks unprecedented Korean unity as citizens rally behind President Lee to protect national interests.
President Lee Jae Myung’s administration in Seoul is resisting Trump’s demands, citing the potential economic destabilization such a large cash transfer could cause. I have never seen such a national consensus before in Korea: more than 70 percent in all parts of the country said the U.S. stance was unreasonable, including 84.0 percent in Daegu—the bastion of the conservative region in North Gyeongsang Province—and 84.8 percent in Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces. Regarding how the government is handling the negotiations so far—rejecting the U.S. demand while continuing talks—61.9 percent said the approach was appropriate. This shows a strong awareness among the public of the need to protect Korea’s national interests and sovereignty. The survey showed no regional, ideological, or partisan divide. Trump created a rare moment of Korean unity. Here are the reasons why.
$13,000 Upfront Cash to Trump per Korean: Trump’s Extortion of Korea
President Donald Trump has demanded a $350 billion payment from South Korea, which he refers to as a “signing bonus.” Trade advisor Peter Navarro referred to it as a “blank check.” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described it as a “national security sovereign fund”—the money would be “directed,” at the president’s discretion, to build factories in the United States and reshore American industry. Even the Fox News host on hand could barely believe it, describing the deal as an “offshore appropriation.” Beyond South Korea, Japan, and the EU, the United States has struck no such deal with any other country—at least not yet.
In fact, the scale of the so-called “investment” in the U.S. is more than $500 billion—$350 billion during the U.S.-Korea tariff negotiations and $150 billion during the U.S.-Korea summit—which exceeds South Korea’s annual government budget. The total U.S. investment of $537 billion is larger than Korea’s one-year budget of $515 billion. This amount equates to roughly $10,000 per person for 50 million South Koreans. Ninety percent of the profits go to the U.S., and this is not an investment but extortion. The U.S. decides the investment destinations, the funds must be deposited within 45 days, and 90 percent of the returns belong to the U.S. The entire investment would be completed in cash within three years of Trump’s term, amounting to 7.6 percent of Korea’s GDP. By comparison, postwar Germany’s reparations were 8 percent of GDP.
Only 1 in 10 Americans Support Raising Tariffs on Korea
Interestingly, the latest survey shows that only 1 in 10 Americans say the U.S. should `raise’ tariffs on Korea, while 33 percent say they should `lower’ them. In other words, national and binational consensus is found against Trump’s tariff threat on Korea.
The United States is turning against its “allies,” treating them as prey trapped by military alliances because it can no longer plunder colonies or impose its will through violence as it once did against China, Russia, India, and the ever-growing Global South. That explains why “Trump is trying to bludgeon South Korea into submission.”
Key Takeaways
Trump’s tariff threat triggered unprecedented Korean national unity.
Korean citizens across regions and ideologies largely agree U.S. demands are unreasonable.
The financial demand ($350B upfront + $150B additional investment) is larger than South Korea’s annual budget.
90% of profits from the “investment” go to the U.S., making it extortion, not investment.
International and domestic consensus strongly opposes Trump’s tariff demands.
The U.S. is increasingly treating allies as economic prey in pursuit of its own strategic and industrial goals
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