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During a visit to the United States on January 23, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok highlighted the strong trust between South Korea and the U.S. regarding the Coupang incident, asserting there is no discriminatory treatment against American companies. He addressed concerns about the Korean government's scrutiny of Coupang, emphasizing it is not due to its American ownership.

Discussions during a luncheon with U.S. lawmakers included Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations, critical mineral supply chains, and shipbuilding cooperation, with lawmakers expressing bipartisan support for strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance. Kim also honored Korean War veterans and engaged with local youth, reinforcing the importance of democracy. Separately, Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby is set to visit South Korea to discuss defense issues and trilateral security cooperation with Japan.