Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha Meets Foreign Minister to Discuss Issues Including 'Coupang and North Korea Information Restrictions'

by Lee Hanna

Published 27 Apr.2026 17:42(KST)

It has been reported that Kang Kyung-wha, Ambassador to the United States, returned to Korea and met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun at the Government Seoul Office on the 27th. They are believed to have discussed current issues such as the recent controversy in diplomatic circles over U.S. restrictions on sharing information related to North Korea and the Coupang issue.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (left) and Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha to the United States held a meeting at the Government Seoul Office on the 27th. The photo shows the two conversing during the National Assembly's audit in 2018. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to diplomatic sources on this day, Ambassador Kang visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building and met with Minister Cho as well as other senior officials of the ministry. Ambassador Kang is said to have taken personal leave and returned to Korea temporarily. However, it appears that, on the occasion of her visit, she met with Minister Cho to discuss pending issues between South Korea and the United States.

There are a number of contentious issues between South Korea and the United States, including restrictions on sharing information related to North Korea and disruptions in security consultations caused by the Coupang issue. Concerns about cracks in the alliance have been strongly raised, particularly among opposition parties, and there have even been calls for Minister Cho to be replaced. In addition to senior officials from the U.S. administration, such as Vice President J.D. Vance, a recent joint letter was sent to Ambassador Kang by 54 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging her to "end discriminatory regulations against U.S. companies including Coupang." While it remains unknown whether the government has issued an official response to this letter, Ambassador Kang and Minister Cho are also believed to have discussed this matter.

Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Cho is scheduled to hold talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the 30th, during which they will discuss key bilateral issues and matters of mutual interest, including high-level exchanges, economic security, defense and the defense industry, and regional affairs.