orean Air has signed a landmark deal to purchase 103 Boeing aircraft, marking one of the largest commercial orders in the airline’s history. The agreement, announced during high-level trade talks in Washington, comes as South Korea seeks to navigate U.S. tariffs imposed earlier this year.
The order includes 50 Boeing 737-10 passenger planes, 45 long-range 787 and 777 jets, and eight 777-8 Freighter cargo planes. Boeing said the deal would support an estimated 135,000 jobs across the United States. Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, hailed the announcement as a “landmark agreement” that underscores the strong ties between the two nations.
Korean Air’s chief executive, Walter Cho, described the fleet renewal as arriving at a “pivotal moment” for the carrier. The airline is currently in the process of merging with rival Asiana Airlines, a move aimed at consolidating its position in the global aviation market.
The announcement followed a meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pressured key trading partners to make large industrial purchases as part of broader trade agreements. The talks also featured U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, South Korea’s Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan, and top executives from Samsung, Hyundai Motor Group, and Nvidia.
Beyond aviation, Seoul unveiled additional commitments, including a $150 billion pledge to support the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Samsung’s shipbuilding arm signed a collaboration with Oregon-based Vigor Marine Group, while Hyundai announced it will increase its U.S. investment to $26 billion, including the construction of a facility capable of producing 30,000 robots annually.
The deal with Boeing has been in development for months. In March, Seoul confirmed that Korean Air was finalizing agreements with Boeing and GE Aerospace. On Monday, the airline also announced a $13.7 billion engine supply deal with GE.
The move follows similar commitments from other U.S. trading partners. Japan agreed to buy 100 Boeing aircraft in July, while Indonesia’s Garuda pledged to acquire 50 planes as part of tariff negotiations. The flurry of deals has helped Boeing pull ahead of its European rival Airbus, despite recent setbacks from safety concerns, production delays, and labor strikes.