South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan visits US to discuss shipbuilding cooperation and Coupang dispute

South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kim Jung-kwan, travelled to Washington on 23 May for a two‑day visit. He attended the opening ceremony of the Korea‑US Shipbuilding Cooperation Center (KUSPC) and met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The officials highlighted plans to strengthen collaboration in shipbuilding, attract U.S. strategic investment, and facilitate technology exchange and workforce training.

The trip also provides a venue to address the ongoing “Coupang issue,” a data‑privacy breach that has become a point of friction between the two countries. U.S. lawmakers and the White House have characterised Korea’s handling of the case as discriminatory against the U.S.-based e‑commerce firm. Seoul maintains that its investigation follows domestic law and is not targeting the company’s nationality. Both sides see the matter as a potential trade‑risk that could spill over into broader commercial relations, and the minister is expected to clarify Korea’s position and mitigate any escalation.