South Korea's Democratic Party of Korea called for a measured government response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down reciprocal tariffs, warning that "uncertainty is growing again" and officials should neither be "elated nor shaken" by the decision.
The party also criticized the ruling People Power Party for "escalating domestic political attacks using the ruling as a pretext" and urged cooperation on the National Assembly's legislative agenda.
Kim Hyun-jung, floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a written briefing Monday that "this ruling is merely a judgment on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which served as the basis for reciprocal tariffs."
"President Donald Trump ended IEEPA-based tariffs immediately after the ruling but promptly pulled out the card of 10% additional tariffs worldwide based on Section 122 of the Trade Act," Kim said. "Uncertainty hasn't ended—it has merely changed form."
Kim emphasized that "the most important point is that this ruling does not apply to product-specific tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum." She added that "risks from Section 232 tariffs on automobiles, key components, and semiconductors remain separate. The core issue Trump is pressing with mentions of raising tariffs back to 25% is automobiles."
The spokesperson delivered sharp criticism of the People Power Party.
"As soon as the Supreme Court ruling came out, the People Power Party started agitating that this was 'submission, not negotiation,'" Kim said. "This is no different from when they first urged quick tariff negotiations, then obstructed by insisting ratification must come first once negotiations actually began."
Kim pointed to internal contradictions within the opposition party. "Even their internal messages are conflicting," she said. "The People Power Party chairman of the Special Committee on U.S. Investment says 'this does not appear to be grounds for canceling Korea's U.S. investment' and will proceed with public hearings as scheduled. They call it submission while saying 'proceed as planned'—which is the People Power Party's real position?"
"If they delay special committee activities and legislation using the ruling as an excuse, it only signals to the U.S. that 'Korea is postponing its promises,' eroding trust and providing justification for retaliation," Kim warned.
She added that "the special committee's first meeting couldn't even properly begin due to People Power Party obstruction" and urged: "Let's fulfill the National Assembly's role now."