South Koreans’ longstanding admiration for the United States is being tested under the return of former President Trump’s “America First” trade policies. Recent reports highlight how the threat of a sweeping 25 % reciprocal tariff—set to start on August 1, 2025—is shaking public confidence and stirring resentment among citizens and businesses.
Once regarded as an economic and cultural powerhouse, the U.S. now feels unpredictable to many South Koreans. Engineer Sydney Sim, who once dreamed of working in America, expressed feelings of betrayal, saying the U.S. “is now a threat to geopolitical balance” . Survey data backs this sentiment: favorable views of the U.S. dropped from 77 % in 2024 to 61 % in mid‑July .
Seoul and Washington share deep strategic ties, including hosting some 28,000 U.S. troops, but economic pressures are straining this bond. The U.S. criticism of South Korea’s support for American forces and pressure for higher defense spending have intensified citizens’ doubts.
The potential tariffs threaten key export sectors—autos, steel, semiconductors—with exports accounting for over 40 % of GDP . Already, exports fell 2.2 % in early July, and some manufacturing lines have temporarily shut as orders weaken . Small and mid‑sized firms worry they can’t relocate manufacturing to the U.S. nor easily pivot to other markets .
South Korea has dispatched its National Security Adviser and trade envoys to Washington, aiming to secure an agreement before the deadline. Talks are reportedly “in a critical phase,” with potential for a framework deal that could include agricultural market concessions.
Analysts see Trump’s move as a strategic ultimatum: urging Seoul to shift factories to the U.S. and align more with American geopolitical aims, especially in acid tests like the China‑U.S. competition . South Korea’s new President Lee Jae‑Myung is caught in a difficult balancing act—facing geopolitical pressure from both Washington and Beijing while dealing with homegrown economic challenges.
This unfolding situation underscores a turning point: Is the U.S.–South Korea relationship shifting from a built-on-trust alliance to a transactional one based on economic leverage? Seoul may need to diversify its export markets and form collective responses with allies like the EU, Japan, or Canada to counterbalance U.S. pressure