Seoul: South Korea has expressed growing optimism about finalizing a long-anticipated trade agreement with the United States before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which will be hosted in Seoul later this month. Senior officials say that after months of intense dialogue, both nations are closing in on a framework that could reshape economic and strategic relations across the Pacific.

Kim Yong-beom, the chief policy adviser to the South Korean President, stated that negotiations have entered their final stages following significant progress made during high-level discussions in Washington. He noted that while “a few issues remain unresolved,” the momentum is unmistakable, and both sides are eager to reach an agreement before the global summit. Kim recently met with U

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