By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) hosted an exclusive closed-door roundtable on September 14 with Christopher Landau, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, during his first official visit to Seoul as Deputy Secretary.

Held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, the meeting brought together senior executives from leading U.S. and Korean companies across industries including automotive, airlines, healthcare, ICT and digital services, and steel.

With Korean investments in the United States continuing to grow, participants engaged in candid discussions on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation, addressing non-tariff barriers, and enhancing Korea’s competitiveness as an investment destination.

AMCHAM Chairman & CEO James Kim welcomed Deputy Secretary Landau and expressed appreciation for his leadership in advancing U.S. foreign policy under the Trump Administration and in shaping the future of U.S.-Korea relations.

He also highlighted AMCHAM’s initiatives in line with the administration’s priorities, including the “Buy America” campaign, which has facilitated greater entry of U.S. goods and services into the Korean market through strategic partnerships.

Business leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing Korea’s overall regulatory environment to attract more U.S. companies to establish regional headquarters (RHQs) in Korea.

Deputy Secretary Landau welcomed the perspectives shared at the roundtable and reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to advancing a strong and mutually beneficial economic partnership.