Seoul: Acting President Han Duck-soo has reached out to a group of former U.S. government officials, urging them to support South Korea in its forthcoming tariff negotiations with the United States, as confirmed by his office on Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Han's meeting included discussions with notable figures such as former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, former Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, and John Hamre, President of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Han acknowledged their past efforts in strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance and requested their continued support in reinforcing this relationship through their affiliations with various think tanks and institutions.
The acting president emphasized the importance of academic backing to ensure that South Korea and the United States reach mutually beneficial agreements in the upcoming economic discussions. Han highlighted the need for a "win-win" solution in these talks, underscoring the role of academia in providing assistance "from the side."
The former officials were in Seoul to participate in the Asan Plenum, an event organized by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, which served as the backdrop for these strategic conversations.