Yeo Han-koo, Korea's Minister for Trade (right), and Jamie Gorelick, U.S. Deputy Trade Representative. [Photo: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has canceled the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Joint Committee meeting that was scheduled to be held privately in Washington D.C. on the 18th.

This is interpreted not as a simple schedule change, but as an incident where the U.S. government's strong distrust and protest against Korea's platform law legislative movement (Platform Competition Promotion Act) have manifested as substantial measures of halting diplomatic and trade consultations.

The Trump administration is reportedly judging that a series of platform regulation bills being pursued in the Korean National Assembly from the second half of 2025 have a high potential to violate the fundamental principle of existing Korea-U.S. trade agreements, which stipulate that U.S. companies will not be discriminated against.

The U.S. government has raised issues with the fact that while the legislation claims to promote "fair competition" in form, it is highly likely to operate unfavorably for U.S. companies in its actual application, implying that the direction of the Korean government's legislation itself is deviating from the principles of free trade.

The U.S. media outlet Politico reported that during the 2025 National Assembly audit, regulatory pressure and demands for data investigation targeting U.S. listed companies, including Coupang, are perceived in the U.S. as excessive regulation and unfair practices.

In particular, it is reported that after the audit took place in October-November 2025, the view among Washington policymakers rapidly spread that this was not "market surveillance" but "selective sanctions."

This concern has been concretized in the U.S. government's official statements. Jamie Gorelick, U.S. Deputy Trade Representative, publicly hinted in early December 2025 that the U.S. could initiate an investigation under "Section 301 of the Trade Act," which could directly lead to the imposition of tariffs if Korea does not withdraw its digital regulation stance.

Subsequently, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) expressed strong dissatisfaction with the series of regulatory trends, including the Coupang hearing, and is known to have abruptly canceled the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee meeting scheduled for December 18, 2025. This is not a mere postponement but a significant diplomatic and trade measure that signifies the virtual halt of overall Korea-U.S. trade negotiations, including tariff talks.

The U.S. has repeatedly raised concerns throughout 2025 that the "Platform Act" pursued by the Korea Fair Trade Commission and the strengthened regulations on Coupang are effectively targeting only U.S. companies such as Google, Apple, and Meta.

This perception is also directly burdening the enactment of the online telecommunications bill and network usage fee bill being pursued by the government and the ruling party.

The core issue lies not in the "severity" of the regulation, but in its "fairness." In 2025, the Chinese online shopping mall Temu was found to have illegally transmitted sensitive personal information, including facial videos and resident registration numbers, to China and Singapore without the consent of Korean users, and was fined 1.3 billion won, but there were many criticisms that this was a slap on the wrist.

In contrast, during the same period, the Korean government and the Democratic Party are intensifying pressure on Coupang, discussing the possibility of imposing fines exceeding 1 trillion won or even suspending its business operations.

The fact that a Chinese company that illegally transferred personal information abroad receives a minor fine, while a U.S.-listed company that underpins domestic employment and the distribution ecosystem faces sanctions close to a death sentence, reveals a serious contradiction from the perspective of regulatory fairness and national interest.

While some domestic media outlets are not fully covering these issues, the gaze of U.S. media and policymakers is clear. The strong sanctions against Coupang are a result of the pro-China-centric politics of the Lee Jae-myung government, which was established through a fraudulent election, and are materializing as damage to the Korea-U.S. alliance and disruptions in tariff negotiations.

The fact that the negotiation table was actually overturned in December 2025 symbolically shows that diplomatic distrust has already crossed the critical point, and it should be seen not as a simple postponement but as a significant matter that includes the overall suspension of Korea-U.S. trade negotiations, especially tariff negotiations.

During the IMF financial crisis in 1997, we shared a sense of solidarity that we could overcome the global crisis together and rise again.

However, the anxiety of 2025 is different in nature. While other countries are advancing with a balance between regulation and innovation, Korea alone is trapped by ideology and political logic, provoking its allies and following the path of Venezuela, which has failed.

If we only clap our hands, content with the livelihood coupons distributed by the government, even though the current prosperous era may soon disappear, it is time to truly come to our senses. Our descendants may not be able to enjoy the peaceful times we have enjoyed.

If we continue with selective regulation and excessive legislation while ignoring the warnings of our allies, the price will inevitably spread to the entire economy and security. What is needed now is not factional logic, but a sober recognition of reality, and a decision to return to the fundamental principles of national survival: free trade and alliance trust.

Editorial Department, Hanmiilbo