The announcement of the first U.S. investment projects resulting from tariff negotiations by the U.S. and Japanese governments is increasing pressure on South Korea. With President Donald Trump prioritizing the prevention of tariff increases, the selection of investment projects will hinge on commercial rationality and the extent of participation by Korean firms. The U.S. secured a $550 billion investment commitment from Japan last year, and now seeks a $350 billion investment from South Korea, which includes $150 billion specifically for the shipbuilding sector. This unprecedented investment scale poses greater burdens on Korea as it is seen as the next in line after Japan.

The National Assembly of South Korea is working towards processing a special bill for U.S. investments by early next month, having formed a special committee to facilitate this. However, tensions between the ruling and opposition parties have already caused the first full meeting to face disruptions over judicial reform discussions. Representatives like Yang Byeong-do of the Democratic Party have criticized the opposition for valuing party interests over national interests, while members of the opposition reaffirm their commitment to process the bill before the March 9 deadline. Nonetheless, the possibility of further disruptions cannot be ruled out.

In anticipation of the bill's passage, the South Korean government has established a 'Strategic Investment Implementation Committee' led by Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jong-kwan. This committee includes officials from various departments and national financial institutions, focusing on proactive engagement before the bill is finalized. Observers suggest that South Korea's investments will heavily focus on the power and energy sectors, aligning with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Rutnik's plans to funnel funds from both Korea and Japan into energy infrastructure.