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President Lee Jae-myung to Hold Summit with President Trump in Gyeongju on the 29th

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a summit in Gyeongju on the 29th, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The meeting is garnering attention as to whether it can provide a breakthrough in the stalled tariff negotiations, a major issue between the two countries centered on a $350 billion investment plan in the U.S. In an interview with Bloomberg News on the 26th (local time), President Lee hinted at the current impasse in tariff negotiations, indirectly revealing that the differences between the two countries remain unresolved. On the other hand, President Trump, while embarking on his Asian tour to Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea on the 24th (local time), stated that "tariff negotiations with South Korea are very close to being finalized," expressing optimism about reaching an agreement. However, the actual negotiation process is expected to be challenging, contrary to President Trump's remarks.

In particular, the North Korean issue is also expected to be a major agenda item at the upcoming South Korea-U.S. summit. President Trump recently referred to North Korea as a 'nuclear power' and stated that "I am 100% open to meeting with Kim Jong-un," leaving open the possibility of resuming dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea. The South Korean government actively supports the resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue and is expected to discuss ways to cooperate between the two countries on the North Korean issue in depth at this summit. However, some are expressing concerns about the U.S.-Korea relationship as President Trump will not be attending the main APEC summit (Economic Leaders' Meeting), which South Korea is hosting as chair from October 31st to November 1st. Nevertheless, this South Korea-U.S. summit is expected to be an important opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation and security coordination between the two countries.

Presidential Office Expresses 'Regret' Regarding Real Estate Policy

Lee Kyu-yeon, Senior Secretary for Public Relations and Communication at the Presidential Office, appeared on MBC Radio's 《Kim Jong-bae's Focus》 this morning and stated, "I am sorry for some of the inconveniences that have arisen" regarding the recently announced 10/15 real estate measures. Secretary Lee emphasized that the surge in real estate prices could be a disaster in the future, and reiterated that the government's real estate policy aims to curb speculation and stabilize the market. He also explained that loans of up to 600 million won are still available for apartments priced at 1.5 billion won or less, emphasizing the government's efforts to alleviate the difficulties faced by genuine buyers. The government's policy is to stabilize the overheated real estate market and promote housing security for ordinary people through these real estate measures. However, some critics argue that the measures infringe on market autonomy and may actually shrink the real estate market.

Presidential Office Comments on KOSPI Surpassing 4,000 Mark

Lee Kyu-yeon, Senior Secretary for Public Relations and Communication at the Presidential Office, mentioned on the YouTube broadcast 'OhmyTV' that President Lee Jae-myung has been frequently using the term 'money move' recently. This is interpreted as an expression of the government's intention to guard against the phenomenon of money released into the market flowing into the real estate market, and to encourage the movement of funds into a sound investment market. Secretary Lee also mentioned that the KOSPI surpassed the 4,000 mark during trading, and stated that it cannot be denied that government policies have influenced this positive economic trend. However, he added that the rise in the KOSPI is not simply the result of government policies, but is the result of a complex combination of various factors such as the global economic recovery and improved corporate performance. The government plans to continue to promote sustained economic revitalization policies to maintain the KOSPI's upward trend and ensure that it has a positive impact on the national economy.

South Korea-U.S. Summit Held Amid Tariff Negotiation Difficulties

The core agenda item of the South Korea-U.S. summit to be held on the 29th is undoubtedly the tariff negotiations. The two countries have been unable to narrow their differences regarding the $350 billion investment plan in the U.S. In an interview with Bloomberg News, President Lee Jae-myung stated that "tariff negotiations are at an impasse," indicating that the differences between the two countries remain significant. On the other hand, President Trump is raising expectations for a tariff agreement by asserting that "tariff negotiations with South Korea are very close to being finalized." However, it is known that fierce disagreements are continuing at the actual negotiating table. In particular, it is reported that the U.S. side is demanding an expansion of South Korea's investment in the U.S., as well as additional market openings in specific industries. In response, the South Korean government is maintaining a cautious stance in order to protect domestic industries and achieve balanced economic growth. Attention is focused on whether the leaders of the two countries can break the deadlock in tariff negotiations through direct negotiations at this South Korea-U.S. summit.

President Trump Hints at Possibility of Meeting with Kim Jong-un

President Trump recently referred to North Korea as a 'nuclear power' and expressed a positive attitude towards meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This is interpreted as a statement suggesting the possibility of a new phase in U.S.-North Korea relations. In the past, President Trump has held several summits with Chairman Kim Jong-un and made diplomatic efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. However, U.S.-North Korea relations have stalled since the breakdown of the Hanoi summit, and North Korea has continued to develop nuclear weapons. In this situation, President Trump's latest remarks are being analyzed as a signal for the resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue. However, as President Trump is known to be not attending the main APEC summit hosted by South Korea as chair, some are expressing concerns about the U.S.-Korea relationship. Nevertheless, President Trump's suggestion of a possible meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-un is expected to have a positive impact on the Korean Peninsula peace process.