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The presidential office announced on the 30th, in reaction to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s comments that semiconductor tariffs were not part of the latest South Korea-U.S. discussions, “The two nations have decided to implement semiconductor tariffs in a way that is no less advantageous than those applied to Taiwan.”

The presidential office addressed this on the same day via a press statement, stating, “This represents a negotiation result that has established a balanced position with Taiwan, a rival in the semiconductor industry, thus removing ambiguity.” It also mentioned, “The announcement stems from a mutual agreement between both parties, with relevant documents currently undergoing final review.”

Previously, Kim Yong-beom, the chief of staff for policy at the presidential office, mentioned during a press conference right after the South Korea-U.S. tariff talks concluded the previous day that an agreement had been made to impose tariffs no less favorable than those applied to Taiwan, the primary competitor. However, controversy emerged when Secretary Lutnick stated on X that “semiconductor tariffs are not included in this South Korea-U.S. agreement.” In response, the presidential office reiterated its current stance.

In light of Secretary Lutnick’s statements, the semiconductor tariffs might be seen as a potential topic for future discussions between the U.S. and South Korea. Japan has explicitly obtained “most-favored-nation treatment” for semiconductors after finalizing its tariff agreement with the U.S., whereas Taiwan is currently engaged in talks with the U.S., making the specific tariff rate unclear.