What's New Year's Face in the U.S. Ahead of Trump's Return?

[Anchor]
The U.S. is also facing a major change ahead of Trump's inauguration in the new year of 2025.

Let's go to Washington, D.C., where preparations for the inauguration ceremony are in full swing.

Correspondent Hong Sang-hee

I think we're in the midst of preparing for the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. What's the atmosphere like in the local area?

[Reporter]
Yes. It's 3 p.m. on December 31st here.

I'm waiting for the New Year in such a warm weather that I can't believe it's the last day of the year.

Washington, DC, is currently busy preparing for President-elect Trump's inauguration.

In front of the main gate of the Capitol, an inauguration platform is being installed.

Visitors to the front of the Capitol can be seen celebrating the new American leadership by taking pictures.

Tourists have also increased significantly ahead of the inauguration, and hotel prices have already more than quadrupled, with up to 1 million people expected to visit Washington before and after the inauguration.

Americans who are about to launch the second Trump administration had mixed expectations and concerns. Listen to it for yourself,

[Gordon McVin Jr. / New York (23 o'clock): You have to understand that (Trump policy) is for the future, not the present. Things like that for our children for the future.]

[Shay Radar / Washington, DC (on air at 0:00): I hope the scary things Trump said don't actually happen. There were actually better things than words. Honestly, a lot of people are probably in uncharted territory.]

[Anchor]
The return of Trump is expected to change U.S. policy. What is the biggest change?

[Reporter]
Yes. The launch of the second Trump administration can be summarized as the return of "America First."

Reuters expected Trump to unleash more than 25 executive orders on his first day in office.

Deportation of illegal immigrants and immigration restrictions, withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and pardoning those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021 are expected.

It has vowed to push for a policy of strengthening protectionism with a 10% universal tariff on all imports and a 60% tariff on China, but attention is also being paid to whether it will be implemented shortly after taking office.

Changes in foreign policy are also expected.

President-elect Trump's diplomatic direction is to maintain international order and conduct diplomacy through thorough transactions in the value diplomacy of the Joe Biden administration, which valued alliances.

As NATO allies have called for increased defense spending and vowed to end the war in Ukraine early, what solutions Trump will come up with immediately after taking office is expected to be a touchstone for Trump's second foreign policy.

[Anchor]
For us, the biggest interest is the impact on the Korea-U.S. relationship. The lack of leadership is a problem due to the current impeachment.

[Reporter]
As you said, our country is facing a second Trump administration in the impeachment process.

The biggest concern is that the leadership vacuum has not led to diplomatic relations between the leaders as well as the establishment of relations with key figures.

We are also concerned about the damage to Korean companies as it is expected that Korea will impose more than 10% of universal tariffs, the Inflation Reduction Act, and electric vehicle subsidies or semiconductor investment subsidies under the IRA will be discarded or revised.

During the presidential election, President-elect Trump demanded $10 billion a year in defense costs and 14 trillion won in Korean money, possibly linking the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea to the issue of sharing defense costs.

In addition, there are concerns about 'Korean passing' if direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are pursued in the process of pursuing the end of the Ukraine war.

President-elect Trump has not made any mention of Korea since the martial law crisis.

Experts stress that both the political and business circles should come forward to present cooperation measures such as shipbuilding and semiconductors to Trump, who values transactions, and make all-out efforts to contact key figures in the second administration.

So far, I've delivered it from Washington.