During the meeting, Lee and Trump will discuss shipbuilding and security

• Lee Jae-myung is meeting with Trump to discuss shipbuilding.
• South Korea proposes investments of 150 billion dollars.
• Main topics include security and relations with China.

This is reported by NBC News, The Yomiuri Shimbun.

Seoul, South Korea – President of South Korea Lee Jae-myung is meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on August 25, 2025. This is the first meeting between the two leaders amid the evolving relations between their countries.

Lee arrived in Washington after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. One of the main topics of the meeting will be the proposal from South Korea, known as "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" (MASGA), which anticipates investments in the U.S. shipbuilding sector totaling 150 billion dollars. This initiative aims to revitalize the shipbuilding industry in the U.S., which has experienced a significant decline.

Recently, relations between South Korea and the U.S. have been strained due to trade disputes. Specifically, Trump imposed new tariffs on imports from South Korea, which increased to 15% from the previously imposed 25%. This agreement was reached during negotiations last month.

Lee plans to discuss with Trump not only shipbuilding issues but also security. Both leaders are concerned about increasing threats from North Korea. At the same time, Lee wants to emphasize the importance of relations with China, given that Beijing is South Korea's main trading partner.

The meeting will take place during joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, which last for 11 days and have drawn criticism from North Korea. Lee hopes that the meeting will help strengthen strategic relations between allies and ensure stability in the region.

After the meeting, Lee will visit a shipbuilding plant in Philadelphia, which is owned by the South Korean company Hanwha Group. This visit underscores South Korea's growing role in revitalizing the American shipbuilding industry.

Tags: USA/Politics/Economy