South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha meets with Korean correspondents at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., in February. [Yonhap]
South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha meets with Korean correspondents at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., in February. [Yonhap]

South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha returned home Wednesday at the direction of Foreign Minister Cho Hyun for a five-day visit to review bilateral issues, including the Coupang Inc dispute. The Foreign Ministry described the trip as a routine part of an ambassador's duties, but observers say it is unlikely to be unrelated to mounting US frustration over South Korea's Network Act and the pace of investment commitments to Washington, as well as stalled working-level talks on a nuclear-powered submarine cooperation program.

Kang is expected to meet Wi Sung-lac, director of the Cheong Wa Dae National Security Office, and brief Foreign Minister Cho in person. She is also expected to review the status of US investment commitments with relevant ministries and meet with Korean companies investing in the United States to hear their concerns.

The Foreign Ministry said Cho has regularly sought direct, on-the-ground assessments from ambassadors to maintain a real-time read on bilateral relations. However, ambassadors typically return home when accompanying a host country's leader on a state visit to South Korea, making the timing of Kang's trip a subject of considerable attention.

Kang is expected to brief officials on the mood in Washington surrounding the Coupang dispute, which has emerged as a key bilateral issue. A court on Tuesday partially granted Coupang Inc's request to suspend enforcement of a ruling designating it as a conglomerate affiliate, shifting the domestic legal landscape and raising questions about the potential impact on Korea-US relations going forward.

Earlier this month, the US House Legislation and Judiciary Committee released a report claiming Korean companies discriminate against Coupang Inc, and the White House subsequently signaled broadly similar concerns — a response that diplomatic observers described as unusual.

The US reaction to South Korea's enforcement of the Network Act, which regulates false and manipulated information, is also expected to be on the agenda. Washington has previously stated that it is seriously concerned the law could lead to excessive content regulation and undermine freedom of expression.

Working-level talks on a Korea-US joint factsheet, which began last month, have also emerged as a pending bilateral issue.


moone@heraldcorp.com