House Lawmakers Warn South Korea Is Targeting U.S. Tech Firms, Favoring China
More than 50 U.S. House members say South Korea's new left-wing government is attacking American companies and leaning toward China.
They made the accusation this week in Washington, citing policy moves they say disadvantage U.S. firms and strengthen Chinese competitors. Their statement frames Seoul's approach as a shift away from traditional U.S.-aligned economic and tech policies, raising concern on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers warned that such moves could undermine U.S. competitive advantages in semiconductors, telecommunications and other tech sectors, and could complicate alliance cooperation on supply chains and security. South Korea's government response was not detailed in the lawmakers' statement. The dispute adds to broader U.S. concerns about allies' technology ties to China amid competition over advanced chips and networks.
📌 Key Facts
- More than 50 House members, led by Rep. Darrell Issa, sent a letter to South Korea's ambassador alleging discriminatory treatment of U.S.-linked firms.
- The lawmakers single out Meta and Korean American-founded Coupang, calling South Korean regulatory actions a "persecution" of American companies in favor of domestic competitors.
- Think tank Competere is cited as estimating $1 trillion in combined economic damage over 10 years, including a $525 billion loss to the U.S. economy and nearly $4,000 per American household.
- The criticism is tied to South Korea's new Democratic Party government under President Lee Jae-myung, which Issa characterizes as closely aligned with China and adopting European-style digital rules.
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