Washington D.C.: The South Korean Embassy in the United States has taken a strategic step to bolster its communication with the incoming Trump administration by hiring Mercury Public Affairs, a prominent lobbying firm previously associated with President-elect Donald Trump's chief of staff nominee. According to Yonhap News Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice disclosed on Sunday that Mercury Public Affairs had officially reported its contract with the South Korean Embassy on November 26. This move follows the requirements of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which mandates that individuals and entities must register with the department when representing foreign interests within the United States. Mercury Public Affairs is a well-known public strategy and consulting company. Notably, Susie Wiles, who worked with Mercury from 2022, has been recently nominated by Trump as his new chief of staff. The New York Times reported this connection, highlighting the potential influence of Mercury's networks in the Trump administration. The agreement between Mercury and the South Korean Embassy involves providing a range of services, including strategic consulting, lobbying, public affairs, and government relations. As outlined in the document filed with the Department of Justice, Mercury's role will include outreach to U.S. officials and advising on the embassy's economic policy agenda, specifically tailored for the second Trump administration. Furthermore, the firm will facilitate introductions between the embassy's leadership and key stakeholders within Trump's transition team who may assume roles in the administration. Mercury's consulting services will also focus on identifying strategic opportunities to foster relationships with Trump transition officials. The contract, which commenced on November 18 and is set to conclude on December 31, carries a one-time project fee of $40,000. The decision to hire Mercury Public Affairs, albeit for a limited duration, is attributed to budget constraints and the need to eval uate the firm's performance. This choice reflects the embassy's challenges in establishing effective communication with the Trump team during the transition period.