1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson provides an overview of a recent news article discussing the successful trade negotiations between South Korea and the United States. The article highlights how South Korea was able to secure more concessions from the U.S. compared to Japan, and how this negotiation is seen as a major diplomatic achievement for the current South Korean government.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 양보 | yangbo | concession | 한국이 일본보다 더 많은 양보를 얻어냈다. |
| 줄다리기 | juldari-gi | tug-of-war, drawn-out negotiation | 수개월간 줄다리기 협상 끝에 합의를 이뤄냈다. |
| 부담스러운 | budamseuroun | burdensome | 전반적으로 덜 부담스러운 협상을 성사시켰다. |
| 관세 | gwanse | tariff | 더 높은 관세가 부과될 위험을 안고 있다. |
| 안도 | ando | relief | 이번 협상이 한국 정부에는 “큰 안도”이다. |
| 가늠하다 | ganeungda | to gauge, to measure | 이번 한국과의 무역 협상을 자신들의 미해결 협상이 어떻게 진행될지 가늠하는 ‘바로미터’로 삼아 면밀히 주시해왔다. |
| 해소하다 | haesoda | to resolve, to alleviate | 이번 협정이 무역 의존도가 높은 한국 경제의 불확실성을 해소할 것으로 기대된다. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
미국 일간 뉴욕타임스(NYT)는 29일(현지시간) 한국과 미국이 수개월간 줄다리기 협상 끝에 합의를 이뤄냈다고 보도했다.
The New York Times reported that South Korea and the United States reached an agreement after months of drawn-out negotiations.
NYT는 “한국이 일본보다 더 많은 양보를 얻어냈고, 전반적으로 덜 부담스러운 협상을 성사시켰다”고 평가했다.
The New York Times evaluated that South Korea secured more concessions than Japan, and negotiated a less burdensome agreement overall.
일본의 경우 트럼프 대통령의 결정에 따르지 않을 경우 더 높은 관세가 부과될 위험을 안고 있다고 이 매체는 지적했다.
The media outlet pointed out that Japan faces the risk of higher tariffs if it does not comply with President Trump’s decision.
이번 협상이 한국 정부에는 “큰 안도”이며 이재명 정부의 외교 정책상 주요 성과이기도 하다는 앤드루 여 브루킹스연구소 한국석좌의 평가도 함께 전했다.
The article also conveyed the assessment of Andrew Yeo, a Korea chair at the Brookings Institution, that this negotiation was a “great relief” for the Korean government and a major diplomatic achievement for the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
WSJ은 한국 정부 관계자들은 최근까지도 협상 타결 가능성을 낮게 평가해왔다며 수개월간 팽팽한 협상 끝에 나온 예상 밖의 진전이었다고 설명했다.
The Wall Street Journal explained that Korean government officials had low expectations for the negotiations to be concluded, and the unexpected progress was the result of months of intense negotiations.
아울러 미국의 다른 무역 상대국들이 이번 한국과의 무역 협상을 자신들의 미해결 협상이 어떻게 진행될지 가늠하는 ‘바로미터’로 삼아 면밀히 주시해왔다고 덧붙였다.
The article added that other U.S. trade partners closely watched this Korea-U.S. trade negotiation as a barometer for how their own unresolved negotiations might progress.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- According to the article, how did South Korea’s trade negotiations with the U.S. differ from Japan’s?
- What risk did Japan face if it did not comply with President Trump’s decision?
- How did the Korean government view the outcome of the trade negotiations?
- Why were the negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. considered unexpected progress?
- How did other U.S. trade partners view the Korea-U.S. trade negotiations?
5. Cultural and historical notes
This trade negotiation between South Korea and the United States is significant because it reflects the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region. As a key U.S. ally in the region, South Korea’s ability to secure more favorable terms compared to Japan demonstrates its growing diplomatic influence. This negotiation outcome is also seen as a foreign policy success for the current South Korean administration, which has prioritized strengthening economic and security ties with the U.S.