Group 1 - Lee Jae-myung's administration is struggling to balance diplomatic relations between the US and China, showing hesitation towards China while emphasizing loyalty to the US [1][6] - Recent discussions with former officials indicate that there are perceptions within the US that Lee is pro-China, which he strongly denies, asserting that US interests are his priority [1][2] - The US postponed a scheduled tariff negotiation with South Korea, which has raised concerns domestically about the US exerting pressure on South Korea for concessions [2][4] Group 2 - South Korea's position in trade negotiations is weakened compared to Japan, which has made significant commitments to the US, including a $550 billion investment plan [4][6] - The failure to reach agreements by the August 1 deadline could result in South Korea adopting unfavorable terms set by other countries, losing negotiation leverage [4][6] - Lee's approach of prioritizing US relations may lead to South Korea being viewed as a subordinate partner rather than an equal, diminishing its strategic importance in the US-China rivalry [6][8] Group 3 - Historical success for South Korea has stemmed from maintaining a balanced approach between the US and China, which is now jeopardized by Lee's "Korea-US first" strategy [7][8] - The recent postponement of talks, attributed to US priorities favoring China, highlights a strategic miscalculation by Lee, who aimed to strengthen ties with the US [8]