Trump: “Korea is an ATM… If I were in power, they would pay 13 trillion won in defense costs”

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate in the U.S., speaks at a Chicago Economic Club event held in Chicago, Illinois yesterday local time. [Photo source = AP/Newsis],
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, “Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate in the U.S., stated that Korea has a ‘Money Machine’ and if he becomes president, Korea should pay an annual cost of $10 billion for the cost of stationing U.S. troops in Korea, which is approximately 13 trillion won. This amount is nearly 9 times higher than the defense cost sharing agreement reached by both Korea and the U.S. recently in 2026, which was 1.5192 trillion won.”
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, ‘In a forum hosted by the Chicago Economic Club in Chicago yesterday local time, former President Trump said, “I love Korea and there are great and ambitious people there.” His remarks suggest that if he wins the election, he will demand renegotiation of defense cost sharing agreements.’,
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, ‘Former President Trump repeatedly likened Korea to a ‘Money Machine’ during the forum, criticizing Korea as a country that “eats off the U.S.” in trade and “free-rides” in security. He also said, “We protect Korea from North Korean nuclear threats, yet Korea doesn’t pay us anything. This is crazy.”‘,
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, ‘During his previous administration, former President Trump proposed a 5-fold increase in defense cost sharing with Korea but failed to narrow the differences and eventually withdrew. With the inauguration of the Biden administration in January 2021, defense cost sharing between Korea and the U.S. was agreed upon. Former President Trump criticized this as a “shameful event.”‘,
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