Ahn Deok-geun Visits U.S. Ahead of Trump's inauguration... "Discussion of Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation"

[Anchor]
Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Deok-geun visited Washington, D.C., ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on the 20th.

Minister Ahn expressed confidence in our company's stable investment in the U.S. and said he would discuss ways to cooperate with the shipbuilding industry, which President-elect Trump is interested in.

This is Washington correspondent Hong Sang-hee.

[Reporter]
The first place Minister of Industry, Ahn Deok-geun, who visited the U.S. just before the launch of the second Trump administration, visited Georgia.

In Georgia, where Korean companies such as Hyundai Motor Group, SK On, and Hanwha Q Cells are concentrated, Minister Ahn focused on resolving concerns about uncertainty caused by the impeachment.

[Ahn Deok-geun / Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy: We are convinced that our alliance with the United States, which is very important for our economic operations, can lead to stable and consistent policies.].]

He seems to have met with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, and worked on a cooperation plan to respond to the inflation reduction law and the IRA's abolition or reduction since the launch of Trump's second term.

Minister Ahn, who visited Washington after Georgia, will stay until the 10th and focus on members of the House and Senate from regions where our companies' investment is concentrated.

In particular, he said he would meet with Republican lawmakers and think tank officials to discuss ways to cooperate with the shipbuilding industry.

[Ahn Deok-geun / Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy: We are planning to discuss ways to cooperate in the Korean and U.S. shipbuilding sector, including Senator Todd Young, who recently proposed a bill to strengthen the shipbuilding industry]

Shortly after winning the presidential election, Trump said he needed South Korea's help in the U.S. shipbuilding industry, and on the 6th, he also mentioned that the U.S. Navy and allies could be used to rebuild the shipbuilding industry.

Ahn, the highest-ranking government official to visit the U.S. since last month's emergency martial law crisis, plans to emphasize consistent economic policy implementation, including stable South Korea-U.S. alliance and investment in the U.S.

Amid growing concerns over uncertainties in the trade environment and security alliance due to Trump's return, some point out that Trump, who values deals, should make more aggressive proposals in industries that could benefit the economies of both countries.

I'm Hong Sang-hee from Washington.

Filming
: Kang Yeon-oh
Video editing: Lim Hyun-chul