*

South Korea orders emergency support for businesses

affected by

U.S. tariffs

*

Trump's tariffs include 25% rate on South Korea, impacting

export-reliant economy

*

KOSPI index drops 2.7%, automakers and chipmakers hit

(Adds finance minister, market reaction in paragraphs 10-11)

SEOUL, April 3 (Reuters) - South Korea's acting

President Han Duck-soo ordered emergency support measures for

businesses that will be impacted by the imposition of U.S.

tariffs, including automobiles, the industry ministry said on

Thursday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled global reciprocal

tariffs that include a 25% rate on South Korea.

Han asked the industry minister to analyse the content of

the tariffs and actively negotiate with Washington to minimise

the impact of U.S. reciprocal tariffs, the ministry said.

"As the global trade war has become a reality, the

government must pour all its capabilities to overcome the trade

crisis," Han said at a meeting with the finance minister and

other top officials, according to the industry ministry.

Trump in his speech singled out Washington's Asian security

allies South Korea and Japan, accusing them of being among the

worst offenders for conducting unfair trade practices against

the United States.

Analysts in Seoul said Trump's extensive rollout of tariffs

was harsher than expected, casting a cloud over the

export-reliant economy.

"For the domestic economy, a significant blow will be

inevitable," said Park Sang-hyun, an economist at iM Securities.

"It is clear that major export products such as automobiles

will be hit hard, and exports to the U.S. through production

bases in Vietnam will also be hit hard," Park said in a note.

Trump also said he will slap a 46% duty on imports from

Vietnam. South Korea's major corporations such as Samsung

Electronics ( SSNLF ) and LG Electronics have manufacturing bases in the

Southeast Asian country.

The benchmark KOSPI stock index fell as much as 2.7%

to three-month lows in early trade, as automakers hit their

lowest levels in more than 14 months. Chipmakers also slumped,

while battery maker LG Energy Solution hit a record

low.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said authorities would

deploy all available tools to stabilise financial markets if

volatility was seen as excessive, after a separate meeting with

the central bank governor and other financial regulatory

officials.

Han will preside over a meeting with the private sector

later on Thursday to discuss responses to the U.S. tariffs.

Before Trump's announcement on reciprocal tariffs, South

Korean officials had sought exemptions, arguing the country had

almost zero tariffs in place under a comprehensive free trade

pact with the United States.