January 27, 2026
TariffTok goes nuclear
Trump raises US tariffs on South Korea imports to 25%
Trump slaps 25% on Korean goods — internet melts down
TLDR: Trump hiked US tariffs on South Korean imports to 25%, saying Seoul dragged its feet, while South Korea seeks urgent talks. Commenters split between legal challenges and mental‑fitness debates, with jokes about pricier cars and K‑pop merch fueling a meme storm—because US buyers may foot the bill.
Trump just dropped a tariff bomb: a 25% tax on imports from South Korea, covering cars, lumber, meds, and more, claiming Seoul dragged its feet on last year’s deal. South Korea says it wasn’t officially warned and wants urgent talks; its stock market dipped then rallied. If you’re wondering what a tariff is: it’s a tax paid by US importers, which can mean higher prices for you. Full story here: BBC.
Online, the drama is louder than a K‑pop comeback. Small‑business owners are panicking about costs, car fans fear pricier Hyundais, and jokers are posting “Tariff Fairy” memes adding +25% at checkout. Legal hawks want lawsuits, asking “Where’s the case?” while others escalated straight to the president’s mental fitness, sparking pushback for armchair diagnosis. The pro‑tariff crowd says this is classic leverage—“move faster, Seoul”—and the anti‑tariff crew says US buyers just eat the bill. People are dubbing it TariffTok, predicting a cliffhanger finale where South Korea rushes DC for talks. Bonus chaos: users tied it to Trump’s weekend threat of 100% tariffs at Canada if it cozies up to China, cue maple‑syrup memes and “NAFTA who?” jokes. It’s policy meets popcorn, and everyone’s arguing about the bill.
Key Points
- •The US will raise tariffs on South Korean imports to 25%, up from 15%, across sectors including automobiles, lumber, and pharmaceuticals.
- •Trump cites delays in South Korea’s approval of a trade deal as the reason, while the US says it already reduced tariffs per the agreement.
- •South Korea says it received no official notice and seeks urgent talks; Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
- •An October deal included South Korea’s pledge to invest $350bn in the US; the agreement was submitted to South Korea’s National Assembly on 26 November and may pass in February.
- •The move fits a broader pattern of Trump using tariffs in foreign policy, with recent threats involving Canada and references to China.