South Korea’s $350B US Deal Stalls on Cash Timeline

• In July 2025, South Korea pledged up to $350 billion in investment into US projects as part of a trade and industrial agreement meant to secure reduced US tariffs on Korean exports
• South Korea’s Industry Minister, Kim Jung‑kwan, said on October 20 that the US has softened its demand for the entire investment to be paid in cash upfront
• Major disagreement over the cash amount still exists between the two countries (the US wants $200 billion paid in cash over eight years, South Korea can afford $15 billion per year)

Korea pledged up to $350 billion for U.S. projects in July 2025 to unlock relief on U.S. tariffs on Korean exports. Negotiators then argued over how much must be paid in cash versus loans, guarantees, or equity. On October 20, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Washington softened the idea of all-cash funding. Even so, the gap remains wide: reports put the U.S. ask near $200 billion in cash over eight years, while Seoul says it can manage about $15 billion per year without straining reserves or domestic credit. That tension now defines the policy path, the currency path, and the crypto-liquidity path.

What the $350B ask means for markets and why cash matters to crypto

Cash is immediate. Loans and guarantees are not. A larger cash component forces USD outflows on a fixed schedule and tightens KRW liquidity at home. When banks and corporates prioritize dollars, local funding costs rise and FX desks move defensively.

Crypto feels that shift first through fiat on-ramps, order-book depth in KRW pairs, and the cost of market-making inventory. Depth thins. Spreads widen. Traders rotate to USD and stablecoin pairs because those rails move when domestic liquidity hesitates.

Why U.S. tariffs sit at the center of the negotiation

The investment framework links directly to U.S. tariffs on Korean exports, including autos and parts. As long as those tariffs remain, exporters defend margins by building USD buffers, which pulls liquidity away from KRW risk. If the cash formula proves too heavy, tariff relief stalls and the won stays sensitive.

If funding shifts toward phased disbursements and credit backstops, tariff relief becomes more likely and KRW stress eases. Policy choices ripple into crypto positioning because the same liquidity that powers factories powers KRW buy-side on exchanges.

How a larger cash call would hit KRW and Korea’s crypto industry

A heavy cash share means near-term dollar demand and won pressure. The Bank of Korea can lean against volatility, but banks still ration balance sheet.

In that setting, KRW deposits into exchanges slow, stablecoin usage rises as a USD proxy, and altcoins lose relative attention while traders cluster in BTC and ETH where liquidity is deeper. The behavior is rational: defend the base, then add risk when currency and credit stabilize.

What changes if the U.S. accepts phased funding instead of heavy cash

A phased or credit-weighted structure smooths the FX profile. KRW liquidity holds up, banks keep on-ramp capacity, and market-makers carry inventory more comfortably.

With tariff relief in view, exporters loosen the dollar grip, the won steadies, and the crypto market’s breadth improves. In that path you see tighter spreads in KRW pairs, firmer altcoin participation, and less dependence on stablecoins for hedging.