Major American Partner Poised to Support Trump
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is said to be confident that he can earn the favor of the next US president during a round of golf. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is reportedly convinced that golf plays a crucial role in cultivating a productive relationship. After an eight-year break, Yoon has resumed golfing to build a closer bond with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. According to his office, “Hitting a ball properly” is considered an essential first step for establishing rapport with Trump.
Yoon returned to the golf course in Seoul last Sunday, preparing for a potential outing with Trump soon, as local media noted. A spokesman for Yoon’s office indicated that the last time the South Korean president played golf was in 2016.
”Our president also has to hit a ball properly to get conversations going on” with Trump, the spokesman remarked, pointing out that the incoming American leader boasts “outstanding” golf skills.
Trump is known for his enthusiasm for the sport and owns 16 golf courses globally. He claims his golf handicap is as low as 2.8, a rating that would be admirable among professionals, though some critics argue that it may be inflated.
During his first presidency, Trump frequently held meetings while playing golf. The late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe played golf five times with Trump, leading to a strong friendship. After Abe’s assassination in 2022, Trump occasionally expressed to his aides, “I wish I could see Shinzo,” as reported by Japanese journalist Kenji Minemura earlier this year.
Yoon informed journalists that he had a phone conversation with Trump for about ten minutes last week, during which both leaders “agreed that we should meet in person soon.”
Discussions between Washington and Seoul are likely to focus on tariffs, as South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok mentioned at a cabinet meeting last week. South Korea’s trade surplus with the U.S. hit a record $44.4 billion last year, driven by its semiconductor sector and the growing popularity of imported Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Trump has pledged to use tariffs to address the U.S.'s trade deficits, especially concerning China.
The two leaders may also address the U.S. military presence in South Korea. The U.S. maintains approximately 28,000 troops in the country, and although Washington and Seoul recently agreed that South Korea would pay $1.13 billion annually for this military deployment moving forward, Trump has suggested that the figure should be substantially higher.
”If I were there now, they’d be paying us $10 billion a year. And you know what? They’d be happy to do it,” Trump stated to Bloomberg last month, referring to South Korea as “a money machine.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Yoon returned to the golf course in Seoul last Sunday, preparing for a potential outing with Trump soon, as local media noted. A spokesman for Yoon’s office indicated that the last time the South Korean president played golf was in 2016.
”Our president also has to hit a ball properly to get conversations going on” with Trump, the spokesman remarked, pointing out that the incoming American leader boasts “outstanding” golf skills.
Trump is known for his enthusiasm for the sport and owns 16 golf courses globally. He claims his golf handicap is as low as 2.8, a rating that would be admirable among professionals, though some critics argue that it may be inflated.
During his first presidency, Trump frequently held meetings while playing golf. The late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe played golf five times with Trump, leading to a strong friendship. After Abe’s assassination in 2022, Trump occasionally expressed to his aides, “I wish I could see Shinzo,” as reported by Japanese journalist Kenji Minemura earlier this year.
Yoon informed journalists that he had a phone conversation with Trump for about ten minutes last week, during which both leaders “agreed that we should meet in person soon.”
Discussions between Washington and Seoul are likely to focus on tariffs, as South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok mentioned at a cabinet meeting last week. South Korea’s trade surplus with the U.S. hit a record $44.4 billion last year, driven by its semiconductor sector and the growing popularity of imported Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Trump has pledged to use tariffs to address the U.S.'s trade deficits, especially concerning China.
The two leaders may also address the U.S. military presence in South Korea. The U.S. maintains approximately 28,000 troops in the country, and although Washington and Seoul recently agreed that South Korea would pay $1.13 billion annually for this military deployment moving forward, Trump has suggested that the figure should be substantially higher.
”If I were there now, they’d be paying us $10 billion a year. And you know what? They’d be happy to do it,” Trump stated to Bloomberg last month, referring to South Korea as “a money machine.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
