By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and his economic delegation in Seoul on October 20, to discuss ways to strengthen economic cooperation between Korea and the United States, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced.

The delegation included the First Lady of Montana, the CEO of Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC), the CEO of Montana Renewables, and the Director of the Office of Trade and International Relations at the Montana Department of Commerce, along with representatives from Montana-based companies and state government officials.

Minister Yeo and Governor Gianforte noted that Korea and Montana have developed a close, mutually beneficial relationship through active trade in LNG, crude oil, and other energy sectors.

They agreed to expand cooperation in energy, critical minerals, manufacturing, and industrial supply chains by leveraging Korea’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and Montana’s abundant natural resources to strengthen energy security and diversify supply chains.

Minister Yeo also raised visa issuance challenges, emphasizing that creating a stable investment environment and ensuring smooth visa processing for Korean companies is critical to prevent a recurrence of issues like the one in Georgia. He requested Governor Gianforte’s attention and support in establishing a lasting solution to this matter.

In addition, Minister Yeo shared that Korea and the United States are pursuing constructive and mutually beneficial approaches in ongoing tariff negotiations and called for active support and engagement from the Montana state government in this process.