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South Korea's second-most-advanced shipbuilding industry in the world can deliver American military and commercial vessels faster and at a fraction of the cost.

The Wall Street Journal reported that South Korea can produce advanced Aegis destroyers for $600 million in 18 months, while the US takes 28 months and $1.6 billion to build a comparable vessel.

Hanwha Ocean, a South Korean shipbuilder, has already secured two US Navy contracts and it acquired Philly Shipyard last year. The firm is therefore well-positioned to play a key role in revitalizing America's struggling industry.

Another crucial area is nuclear power. Since taking office, Yoon has successfully revitalized South Korea's nuclear power industry that was crippled by the previous administration's anti-nuclear policies.

As Washington seeks to counter China and Russia's growing global nuclear influence, South Korea's cutting-edge technology is poised to become a strategic asset.

In January, Seoul and Washington signed a memorandum to enhance cooperation on nuclear power exports and advance civilian nuclear projects – an initiative that could expand significantly under a Trump administration.

South Korea is likewise pivotal in safeguarding key supply chains, especially in rare earth minerals. Korea Zinc, the sole South Korean company capable of producing high-purity antimony– a crucial material for weapons manufacturing – has become indispensable to the US defense industry.

As China tightens its grip on these resources, South Korea's contribution to maintaining a stable supply will become critical to US national security.

Beyond this, South Korea has become a key player in bolstering US economic security. In 2023, under President Yoon's leadership, South Korea became the largest foreign investor in the US, directing billions into crucial sectors such as defense, semiconductors, batteries, and energy. These industries are not merely vital to America's industrial competitiveness but essential to its broader geopolitical contest with China.

However, as the recent parliamentary vote shows, South Korea's strategic alignment with the US has not gone unchallenged. Notably, the nation has increasingly faced Chinese interference, including cyberattacks, corporate espionage and disinformation campaigns.

Industrial espionage that targets South Korea's semiconductor sector has resulted in the theft of high-end technology from corporate giants like Samsung and SK. These crimes and others dealt a blow to the country's economy and the broader US-led effort to maintain a technological edge over China.

In June 2024, South Korean authorities arrested three Chinese nationals caught filming a military base and a US aircraft carrier docked in Busan. The perpetrators turned out to be prominent Chinese Communist Party members, with hundreds of similar images and videos stored in their database.