South Korea Network Act Revision: Trade Minister Yeo Heads to D.C. to Allay US Concerns
South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo heads to Washington on Jan 11, 2026, to address US concerns regarding the network act revision. Key meetings with USTR Jamieson Greer expected.
A diplomatic storm's brewing over digital borders. As South Korea moves to tighten its grip on online disinformation, Washington's sounding the alarm. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo departed for Washington D.C. on January 11, 2026, tasked with smoothing over friction caused by the recent network act revision.
US Concerns Over South Korea Network Act Revision and Digital Freedom
The conflict centers on Seoul's attempt to regulate false and fabricated information online. However, the U.S. State Department hasn't been shy about its disapproval. Officials in D.C. argue that the law could unfairly target American giants like Google and Meta, potentially stifling free expression and creating trade barriers. It's a classic clash between national safety regulations and the borderless nature of Big Tech.
"We need to explain the government's exact policy intentions regarding the domestic digital legislation. It appears that our exact policy intentions may have been misunderstood."
High-Stakes Diplomacy with USTR
Yeo's itinerary is packed with high-level meetings. He's scheduled to sit down with Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), along with key lawmakers and business reps. The goal's clear: prevent this regulatory spat from snowballing into a full-blown trade dispute that could jeopardize the technological alliance between the two nations.
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