South Korea and the U.S. Hold Face-to-Face 'Defense Cost-Sharing' Talks in Washington... Will They Find a Compromise on Key Issues?

Expectations for In-Person Meetings After One Year Since March Last Year

Jeong Eun-bo, the Special Representative for the Korea-US Defense Cost-Sharing Negotiations, is departing through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 4th to attend the 9th meeting for the conclusion of the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on defense cost-sharing between Korea and the US, held in Washington, USA. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] South Korea and the United States held negotiations on the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on defense cost-sharing in Washington DC on the 5th (local time).

According to diplomatic sources, the negotiations were attended by Jeong Eun-bo, South Korea's chief negotiator for defense cost-sharing, and Donna Welton, the U.S. Department of State's chief negotiator for defense cost-sharing. This was the 9th meeting and the second since the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides in a year since March of last year.

Through the face-to-face meeting, both sides began final compromise efforts on key issues. Ambassador Jeong, who is currently staying in Washington, is scheduled to return to Korea on the 7th. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the two sides will meet once more on the 6th to attempt further coordination of opinions. Prior to this meeting, Ambassador Jeong expressed his determination for a swift agreement, stating, "We will strive to resolve most of the issues in principle."

He also stated that they would work to promptly produce a reasonable and fair negotiation outcome acceptable to both sides and that detailed matters for the operation of the agreement would also be discussed.

Meanwhile, last March, South Korea and the U.S. tentatively agreed to increase the 2020 defense cost-sharing amount by 13% compared to 2019 (10.389 trillion won), but the agreement was not reached as then-President Donald Trump rejected it. The South Korean government maintains that the 13% increase is the maximum, and the Biden administration is reportedly not significantly different in its stance. It is also reported that both sides have reached a consensus on a multi-year agreement period.

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