On-point: Will South Korea's exports hold up during Trump 2.0?

South Korea's exports for the new year started positively, rising 3.7% on-year in the first 10 days of January, on the back of strong demand for semiconductors.

Will this be sustainable even in the second Trump era?

Let's turn to Professor Shim Myung-kyu.

Thanks for joining us.

1. Trump's tariffs, largely rooted in his protectionist trade policies, are expected to be on the way.

For South Korea, which sector will be the hardest hit by Trump's return?

2. What about chip exports?

Are they also going to be in trouble? Or is this an overreaction?

3. Diversifying export markets is being touted as a solution to handle Trump's aggressive tariffs.

Would you also say that's the ultimate solution?

Is there any other way out?

4. But can we say Trump's return will, on the other hand, offer opportunities for Korean defense firms to expand their exports?

How?

What other areas of export could benefit other than arms exports?

5. Will Trump view his country's growing trade deficit with South Korea as concerning and possibly negotiate a South Korea-U.S. FTA, like he did during his first term?

How likely is it that there will be a repeat of that?

Why?

Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us this morning.

We appreciate it.